Familism moderates the association between parent-child conflict,interpersonal needs,and suicidal ideation among adolescents

Abstract

Within the framework of the interpersonal theory of suicide, parent-child conflict in adolescence may be associated with suicidal ideation through increases in thwarted interpersonal needs (i.e., perceived burdensomeness and thwarted belongingness). Familism, a cultural value that emphasizes prioritizing familial interconnectedness and honor, may moderate the association between parent-child conflict and thwarted interpersonal needs. This study examined the relationship between parent-child conflict, familism, and suicidal ideation through the interpersonal theory of suicide. Participants were N = 250 psychiatrically hospitalized adolescents aged 12–17 years (Mage = 14.84, 60.8% female; 41.9% Hispanic, 21.5% African American/Black, 26.0% Caucasian). Participants completed survey and interview measures prior to discharge from psychiatric hospitalization. There was a significant conditional indirect effect of parent-child conflict on suicidal ideation through thwarted interpersonal needs [F (3, 246) = 54.41, p < .01], such that the strength of the indirect effects family conflict on suicidal ideation via thwarted interpersonal needs increased as familism increased. Findings indicate that the relationship between parent-child conflict and thwarted interpersonal needs may be exacerbated when levels of familism are also high. For youth who endorse high levels of familism, parent-child conflict may be particularly pernicious. Interventions targeting the family environment are needed to potentially improve adolescents’ interpersonal functioning and protect against suicidal ideation.

Plain language summary

Child and adolescent suicide is a growing and pressing problem, and it is currently the second leading cause of death among people aged 10–34. One theory of suicide, called the interpersonal theory of suicide, proposes that suicide ideation is related to two main risk factors: feeling that one’s life is a burden on others (called perceived burdensomeness) and feeling like one is disconnected from others (called thwarted belongingness). In this theory, risk factors like parent-child conflict may be related to suicide ideation through increases in perceived burdensomeness and thwarted belongingness. It is possible that cultural values that prioritize family connectedness and honor (called familism) may also impact these relationships. The current study looked at how parent-child conflict, familism, and adolescent suicide ideation were related to one another in the context of the interpersonal theory of suicide. Participants in the study were 250 adolescents in a psychiatric hospital who completed survey and interview measures before being discharged. Results found parent-child conflict was related to suicide ideation through increases in one’s perceived burdensomeness and thwarted belongingness (higher parent-child conflict was related to higher ratings of perceived burdensomeness and thwarted belongingness, which was related to higher ratings of suicide ideation), and the strength of the relationship between parent-child conflict, perceived burdensomeness, and thwarted belongingness increased as ratings of familism increased. These results indicate that parent-child conflict may have an especially strong relationship with thoughts of suicide in adolescents who also report a high level of familism. Therefore, suicide-related interventions that target the family environment may help prevent and treat adolescent suicide ideation.