Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

A quantitative and qualitative analysis of suicidal preadolescent children and their families

  • Articles
  • Published:
Child Psychiatry and Human Development Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

This study identified a sample of suicidal preadolescent children who also were depressed, aggressive, and socially isolated. The study explored the dimensions of cohesion and control associated with the families of these children. Two hypotheses were suggested: 1) the families have a deficit in emotional bonding and 2) the families have a chaotic disciplinary style. It also seems likely that children learn suicidal behavior through observation of others in their family and social contexts.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Pfeffer CR, Zuckerman S, Plutchik R, Mizruchi, MS: Suicidal behavior in normal school children: A comparison with child psychiatric inpatients.J Am Acad Child Psychiat 23: 416–423, 1984

    Google Scholar 

  2. Pfeffer CR, Conte HR, Plutchik R, Jerrett I: Suicidal behavior in latency-age children: An outpatient population.J Am Acad Child Psychiat 19: 703–710, 1980.

    Google Scholar 

  3. Milling LM, Campbell NB, Bush E, Laughlin A: The relationship of suicidality and psychiatric diagnosis in hospitalized preadolescent children.Child Psychiat Hum Developm 23: 41–48, 1992.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Milling LS, Campbell NB, Bush E, Laughlin, A:The personality correlates of suicidal behavior among psychiatric preadolescent children. Paper presented at the meeting of the American Psychological Association, Boston, MA, 1990.

  5. Pfeffer CR:The Suicidal Child. New York: Guilford Press, 1986.

    Google Scholar 

  6. Moore, DR: Childhood behavior problems: A social learning perspective. In:Psychopathology in Childhood, ed. Lachenmeyer JR, Gibbs MS, New York: Gardner Press, 1982.

    Google Scholar 

  7. Carlson GA, Cantwell, DP: Suicidal behavior and depression in children and adolescents.J Am Acad Child Psychiat 21: 1982.

  8. Pfeffer CR, Plutchik R, Mizruchi MS: Suicidal and assaultive behavior in children: Classification, measurement, and interrelations.Am J Psychiat 40: 154–157, 1983.

    Google Scholar 

  9. Capaldi DM: Co-occurrence of conduct problems and depressive symptoms in early adolescent boys: I. Familial factors and general adjustment at Grade 6.Development and Psychopathology 3: 277–300, 1991.

    Google Scholar 

  10. Capaldi DM: Co-occurrence of conduct problems and depressive symptoms in early adolescent boys: II. A 2-year follow-up at Grade 8.Development and Psychopathology 4: 125–144, 1992.

    Google Scholar 

  11. Olson DH, McCubbin HI, Barnes H, Larsen A, Muxen M, Wilson M:Family Inventories. St. Paul: University of Minnesota, 1985.

    Google Scholar 

  12. Olson DH, McCubbin HI, Barnes H, Larsen A, Muxen M, Wilson M:Family Inventories. St. Paul: University of Minnesota, 1985.

    Google Scholar 

  13. Corder BF, Haizlip TM: Environmental and personality similarities in case histories of suicide and self-poisoning by children under ten.Suicide and Life Threatening Behavior 14: 59–66, 1984.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Pfeffer CR: The family system of suicidal children.Am J Psychotherapy 35: 330–341, 1981.

    Google Scholar 

  15. Pfeffer CR:The Suicidal Child. New York: Guilford Press, 1986.

    Google Scholar 

  16. Asarnow JR, Carlson GA, Guthrie D: Coping strategies, self-perceptions, hopelessness, and perceived family environments in depressed and suicidal children.J Consult Clinic Psychol 55: 361–366, 1987.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  17. Campbell NB, Milling LM, Laughlin A, Bush E: The psychosocial climate of families with suicidal preadolescent children.A J Orthopsychiat 63: 142–145, 1993.

    Google Scholar 

  18. Corder BF, Haizlip TM: Environmental and personality similarities in case histories of suicide and self-poisoning by children under ten.Suicide and Life Threatening Behavior 14: 59–66, 1984.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  19. Orbach I, Gross Y, Glaubman H: Some common characteristics of latency-age suicidal children: A tentative model based on case study analyses.Suicide and Life Threatening Behavior 11: 180–190, 1981.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  20. Pfeffer CR: The family system of suicidal children.Am J Psychotherapy 35: 330–341, 1981.

    Google Scholar 

  21. Pfeffer CR:The Suicidal Child. New York: Guilford Press, 1986.

    Google Scholar 

  22. Asarnow JR, Carlson GA, Guthrie D: Coping strategies, self-perceptions, hopelessness, and perceived family environments in depressed and suicidal children.J Consult Clinical Psychol 55: 361–366, 1987.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  23. Campbell NB, Milling LM, Laughlin A, Bush E: The psychosocial climate of families with suicidal preadolescent children.Am J Orthopsychiat 63: 142–145, 1993.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  24. Campbell NB, Milling LM, Laughlin A, Bush E: The psychosocial climate of families with suicidal preadolescent children.Am J Orthopsychiat 63: 142–145, 1993.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  25. Milling LM, Campbell NB, Bush E, Laughlin A: The relationship of suicidality and psychiatric diagnosis in hospitalized preadolescent children.Child Psychiat Hum Developm 23: 41–48, 1992.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  26. Milling LM, Campbell NB, Bush E, Laughlin A: The relationship of suicidality and psychiatric diagnosis in hospitalized preadolescent children.Child Psychiat Hum Developm 23: 41–48, 1992.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  27. Pfeffer CR:The Suicidal Child. New York: Guilford Press, 1986.

    Google Scholar 

  28. Pfeffer CR, Zuckerman S, Plutchik R, Mizruchi, MS: Suicidal behavior in normal school children: A comparison with child psychiatric inpatients.J Am Acad Child Psychiat 23: 416–423, 1984.

    Google Scholar 

  29. Pfeffer CR, Conte HR, Plutchik R, Jerrett I: Suicidal behavior in latency-age children: An outpatient population.J Am Acad Child Psychiat 19: 703–710, 1980.

    Google Scholar 

  30. Pfeffer CR, Plutchik R, Mizruchi MS: Suicidal and assaultive behavior in children: Classification, measurement, and interrelations.Am J Psychiat 40: 154–157, 1983.

    Google Scholar 

  31. Pfeffer CR, Soloman G, Plutchik R, Mizruchi MS, Weiner A: Suicidal behavior in latency-age psychiatric inpatients: A replication and cross-validation.J Am Acad Child Psychiat 21: 564–569, 1982.

    Google Scholar 

  32. Milling LS, Campbell NB, Bush E, Laughlin, A:The personality correlates of suicidal behavior among psychiatric preadolescent children. Paper presented at the meeting of the American Psychological Association, Boston, MA, 1990.

  33. Achenbach TM, Edelbrock C:Manual for the Child Behavior Checklist and Bevised Child Behavior Profile. Burlington: University of Vermont, 1983.

    Google Scholar 

  34. Olson DH, McCubbin HI, Barnes H, Larsen A, Muxen M, Wilson M:Family Inventories. St. Paul: University of Minnesota, 1985.

    Google Scholar 

  35. Lorber R, Patterson GR: The aggressive child: A concomitant of a coercive system. In:Advances in Family Intervention, Assessment and Theory Vol 2, ed. Vincent JP. Greenwich, CT: JAI Press, Inc, 1983.

    Google Scholar 

  36. Pfeffer CR:The Suicidal Child. New York: Guilford Press, 1986.

    Google Scholar 

  37. Wahler RG: The insular mother: Her problems in parent-child treatment.Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis 13: 207–219, 1980.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  38. Patterson G: Stress: A change agent for family process. InStress, Coping, and Development in Children, ed. Garmezy N, Rutter M. New York: McGraw-Hill, 1983.

    Google Scholar 

  39. Dadds MR: Families and the origins of child behavior problems.Family Process 26: 341–357, 1987.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  40. Doane JA, Hill WL, Diamond D: A developmental view of therapeutic bonding in the family: Treatment of the disconnected family.Family Process 30: 155–175, 1991.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Bowling Green State University, USA

    Kenneth I. Pargament PhD

  2. Department of Psychology, University of Toledo, 43606, Toledo, OH

    Ellen Greene Bush PhD

Authors
  1. Ellen Greene Bush PhD
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Kenneth I. Pargament PhD
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Additional information

The authors wish to thank Len Milling for providing us with access to the clinical setting and for his generous ongoing support, Catherine Stein and Ann Marie Ryan for their suggestions during the development of the study, and Joyce Henderson and Ann Laughlin for their help in data collection.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Bush, E.G., Pargament, K.I. A quantitative and qualitative analysis of suicidal preadolescent children and their families. Child Psych Hum Dev 25, 241–252 (1994). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02250992

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02250992

Key words

Search

Navigation