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Adoption Could Increase Suicide Risk
Attempted suicide is more common among adolescents who live with adoptive
parents than among those who live with biological parents, say researchers from
the Children's Hospital Medical Center, University of Cincinnati College of
Medicine, Ohio. However, they stress that the great majority of adopted youths
do not attempt suicide. In addition, Gail Slap and colleagues report that 'high
family connectedness decreases the likelihood of suicide attempts, regardless of
adoptive status and represents a protective factor for all adolescents.'
Using data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health, Slap's
team evaluated 6,577 adolescents in grades 7 through 12 who were living with
their adoptive (n=214) or biological (n=6,363) mothers. None of the adolescents
had been separated from their mothers for more than six months. In addition, all
the mothers were in their first marriage, which increased the likelihood that
the children lived in two-parent families and had not experienced divorce.
The researchers found that 7.6% of adopted adolescents had attempted suicide
in the past year, compared with about 3% of their non-adopted peers. In
addition, adopted adolescents were more likely to have received psychological or
emotional counseling.
The team note, however, that the adopted and non-adopted children did not
differ in other aspects of emotional and behavioral health. Slap et al emphasize
that association between adoption and attempted suicide persists after adjusting
for depression and aggression, and is not mediated by impulsivity, as measured
by a self-reporteed tendency to make decisions.
Suicide attempt was also associated with increased susceptibility to smoke
cigarettes, engage in delinquent behavior, and have a low self-image. But there
were no significant differences between those who had attempted suicide and
those who had not in terms of age, race, parents' education, and family income.
Writing in Pediatrics, the authors conclude: 'Although the mechanism
underlying the association [between adoption and suicide attempt] remains
unclear, adoptive status may help health care providers to identify youths who
are at risk and to intervene before a suicide attempt occurs.'
http://www.psychiatrymatters.md/news/2001/week_32/day_5/p_0000050484.asp
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