Cumulative Health Risk Behaviors and Adolescent Suicide: The Moderating Role of Future Orientation.

Objectives: In this study, we investigated the association between cumulative health risk behaviors (HRBs) and adolescent suicidal behaviors and the moderating effect of future orientation. Methods: We used data were from 4255 adolescents in grades 9th-12nd participating in the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health (Wave I-II). We computed a cumulative HRB index by using 14 HRB indicators covering diet, physical activity, sleep, social media use, safety behaviors, and substance use. We used multilevel mixed-effect logistic regressions to analyze associations among cumulative HRBs, future orientation, and suicidal behaviors, adjusting for sociodemographic characteristics, depression, and complex survey design. We included 3-way interaction terms to explore moderation effect. Results: Cumulative HRBs significantly increased the odds of suicidal ideation (AOR = 1.27, 95% CI = [1.17, 1.37], p <. 001) and suicide attempts (AOR=1.26, 95% CI = [1.09, 1.46], p <. 01) across time. Future orientation moderated the associations between cumulative HRBs and suicide attempts differently across race/ethnicity. Engaging more than 4 cumulative HRBs, black adolescents with low future orientation had significantly higher risks of suicide attempts than those with high future orientation. Conclusions: Findings underline cumulative HRBs as significant risk factors for adolescent suicidal behaviors longitudinally. Suicide interventions targeting HRBs could benefit from nurturing future orientation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of American Journal of Health Behavior is the property of PNG Publications and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)