The associations of childhood adversities and mental disorders with suicidal thoughts and behaviors - Results from the World Mental Health International College Student Initiative

Mortier, Philippe ; Yang, Xue ; Altwaijri, Yasmin A. ; Holdcraft, Jacob A. ; Lee, Sue ; Sampson, Nancy A ; Albor, Yesica ; Alhadi, Ahmad N. ; Alonso, Jordi ; Al-Saud, Nouf K. ; Andersson, Claes ; Atwoli, Lukoye ; Auerbach, Randy P. ; Muaka, Caroline Ayuya ; Báez-Mansur, Patricia M. ; Ballester, Laura ; Bantjes, Jason ; Baumeister, Harald ; Bendtsen, Marcus ; Benjet, Corina ; Berman, Anne H. ; Bruffaerts, Ronny ; Carrasco, Paula ; Chan, Silver C.N. ; Cohut, Irina ; Covarrubias Díaz Couder, María Anabell ; Crockett, Marcelo A. ; Cuijpers, Pim ; David, Oana A. ; Dong, Dong ; Ebert, David D. ; Gaete, Jorge ; Felez-Nobrega, Mireia ; García Forero, Carlos ; Gili, Margalida ; Gutiérrez-García, Raúl A. ; Haro, Josep Maria ; Hasking, Penelope ; Hunt, Xanthe ; Husky, Mathilde M. ; Jaguga, Florence ; Jansen, Leontien ; Langer, Álvaro I. ; Liu, Yan ; Mac-Ginty, Scarlett ; Martínez, Vania ; Mason, Andre ; Mathai, Muthoni ; McLafferty, Margaret ; Miranda-Mendizabal, Andrea ; Murray, Elaine K. ; Musyoka, Catherine M. ; O’Neill, Siobhan M. ; Papasteri, Claudiu C. ; Piqueras, José A. ; Popescu, Codruta A. ; Rapsey, Charlene ; Robinson, Kealagh ; Rodriguez-Jimenez, Tiscar (Universidad de Zaragoza) ; Scarf, Damian ; Siu, Oi-ling ; Stein, Dan J. ; Struijs, Sascha Y. ; Tomoiaga, Cristina T. ; Valdés-García, Karla Patricia ; Vereecke, Shelby ; Vigo, Daniel V. ; Wang, Angel Y. ; Wong, Samuel Y.S. ; Kessler, Ronald C.

Resumen: Objective. To investigate the associations of demographic variables, childhood adversities (CAs), and mental disorders (MDx) with onset, transition, and persistence of suicidal thoughts and behaviors (STB) among first-year university students.
Method. Poisson regression models within a discrete-time survival framework were constructed using web-based self-report survey data from 72,288 incoming university students across 18 countries (response rate=20.9%; median age=19 years, 57.9% female, 1.4% transgender, 21.0% non-heterosexual). These models examined the associations of four demographic variables, five CAs, and eight MDx with STB outcomes.
Results. Lifetime prevalence of suicidal ideation, plans, and attempts was 47.0%, 26.0%, and 9.6%, respectively; 12-month estimates were 30.6%, 14.0%, and 2.3%. In unadjusted analyses, associations were strongest between lifetime onset of suicidal ideation and CAs (RR range 4.4–7.0), particularly parental psychopathology (relative risk [RR]=7.0 [95% CI 6.5–7.7]), followed by MDx (RR range 1.3–3.0). Of the demographic subgroups, transgender students had highest risk of STB (lifetime ideation onset RR=2.4 [2.3–2.6]; ideation-to-attempt transition RR=1.5 [1.3–1.8]). In fully adjusted models, strongest predictors of lifetime ideation onset were emotional abuse (RR=2.1 [1.9–2.2]), major depressive disorder (RR=2.0 [1.9–2.1]), and bipolar disorder (RR=1.8 [1.6–2.0]). Ideation-to-attempt transition remained most strongly associated with panic disorder (RR=1.5 [1.3–1.7]), bipolar disorder (RR=1.4 [1.2–1.7]), and sexual abuse (RR=1.4 [1.2–1.7]). Most predictors were significantly but weakly associated with persistence of ideation and plan, while only physical abuse remained associated with repeated suicide attempts (RR=1.3 [1.0–1.8]).
Conclusion. CAs and MDx are strong predictors of both onset of and transition within the STB spectrum, underscoring the importance of implementing early-life prevention interventions.

Idioma: Inglés

DOI: 10.1016/j.psychres.2025.116555

Año: 2025

Publicado en: PSYCHIATRY RESEARCH 350 (2025), 116555 [13 pp.]
ISSN: 0165-1781

Financiación: info:eu-repo/grantAgreement/ES/ISCIII/AC2-00006
Financiación: info:eu-repo/grantAgreement/ES/ISCIII/CB06-02-0046
Financiación: info:eu-repo/grantAgreement/ES/ISCIII/CP21-00078
Financiación: info:eu-repo/grantAgreement/ES/ISCIII/PI20-00006
Financiación: info:eu-repo/grantAgreement/ES/ISCIII/PI22-00107

Tipo y forma: Article (Published version)

Área (Departamento): Área Person.Eval.Trat.Psicoló. (Dpto. Psicología y Sociología)