This study investigates the effects of life stress and social support from parents and friends on suicidal ideation among korean adolescents. Based on the existence of behavioral expression and self-injury, suicidal behavior is classified as suicidal ideation, suicidal plans and suicidal attempts. Life stress includes major and minor life events and reflects the recency of the events and the evaluation by respondents.
Subjects for the survey were male and female students who were attending high school in April 2004. Data from 521 adolescents was analyzed through descriptive statistics and linear regression, using the SPSS 11.5. As a result, several findings were made. Life stress, especially stress in friend/peer sub-dimension, increases suicidal ideation. Also, social support from parents and friends, especially evaluational support, decrease the suicidal ideation that was caused by life stress. This study identifies the cause of adolescent suicidal ideation and the effect of social support from parents and friends while providing a focus for the prevention counselling and treatment programs.
Keywords: adolescent, suicidal ideation, life stress, social support