Suppressing Emotions, Feeling Like a Burden Linked to Suicidal Behavior in Preteens

Preteen children who have more trouble expressing their feelings and who perceive themselves as a greater burden to others may be on the cusp of having suicidal thoughts and behaviors (STB), according to areport in theJournal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry.Increases in caregiver criticism and conflict are also risk factors for impending STBs, according to the study. Preteen girls with these traits are at especially high risk.“Preadolescent STBs are dramatically increasing, and it is critical to identify risk factors that can be clinically assessed and modified with treatment,” wrote Renee Thompson, Ph.D., of Washington University, St. Louis, and colleagues.The researchers analyzed the association between a host of psychosocial factors and suicidal thoughts and behaviors in 192 children aged 7 to 12; most of the children had participated in a clinical study of preadolescent depression, though some children who did not have depression were added as controls.The participants completed a series of surveys that assessed suicidality and the following psychosocial risk factors:Depressive symptomsPositive and negative affectThe ability to understand what one is feelingThe sense of being disconnected from people and not belonging anywhereThe perception that one is burdensome to othersCriticism from and conflict with caregiversThe ability or willingness to manage and/or express one ’s feelingsThe surveys were conducted weekly with children whose caregi...
Source: Psychiatr News - Category: Psychiatry Tags: burden child and adolescent psychiatry conflict depression preteen rumination suicidal thoughts suicidality suppressed feelings Source Type: research