Suicidal Ideation in Adolescents Exposed to Community Violence: A National Study of Risk Factors, Yrbs 2023

Background and Purpose:
Adolescent suicide is a public health issue in the United States, ranking as the second leading cause of death among youth aged 10–24 . Between 2011 and 2021, suicide rates rose by 48%, signaling an urgent need for action. Suicidal behaviors among adolescents are shaped by interrelated psychological, social, and environmental stressors. Exposure to neighborhood violence (NV)—including shootings, assaults, and gang activity—has been linked to increased psychological distress, trauma symptoms, and a greater risk of suicide attempts. Such exposure heightens feelings of hopelessness and depressive symptoms, which are strongly associated with suicidal ideation. School connectedness has been identified as a protective factor that can buffer these risks. This study explores how NV relates to adolescent suicidality and examines how demographic characteristics, mental health, school climate, and victimization experiences may moderate this relationship.

Methods:
Analyses focused on a subsample of 3,495 adolescents who reported witnessing non-volitional violence from 2023 Youth Risk Behavior Survey. Key variables included demographic characteristics, mental health indicators (depressive symptoms, anxiety), school connectedness, perceived safety, parental monitoring, victimization experiences, and average sleep duration. Suicidal ideation was measured dichotomously. Multivariable binary logistic regression was employed to assess associations between selected predictors and suicidal ideation, adjusting for sex, grade, race/ethnicity, sexual identity, and sleep duration. Analyses were conducted in Jamovi (version 2.6.23), with p < .05.

Results:
The logistic regression model revealed significant predictors of suicidal ideation (χ²(42) = 994, p < .001, McFadden’s R² = 0.322). Black or African American (OR = 0.616), Hispanic/Latino (OR = 0.478), and multiple Hispanic/Latino (OR = 0.676) adolescents had lower odds of suicidal ideation compared to White adolescents. Bisexual (OR = 2.338) and questioning adolescents (OR = 1.775) were at higher risk, while the odds for gay/lesbian adolescents were not significant. Grade level showed minimal impact, with 9th graders (OR = 1.361) at higher risk compared to 10th graders. Key environmental and psychological factors emerged as significant. Adolescents feeling unsafe at school (OR = 1.574 to 2.349) and those reporting frequent parental conflict (OR = 1.500 to 2.300) had increased odds of suicidal ideation. Depressive symptoms were the strongest predictor (OR = 7.508), followed by victimization, including forced sexual intercourse (OR = 1.542). Difficulty concentrating due to health (OR = 2.607) was also significant. Sleep duration showed inconsistent associations, suggesting further exploration.

Conclusions and Implications:
This study underscores the relationship between non-volitional violence and suicidal ideation, with race, sexual identity, and environmental factors playing pivotal roles. Protective factors may mitigate risk among certain racial/ethnic groups, while sexual minority youth exhibit heightened vulnerability due to minority stress, necessitating targeted interventions. Schools are integral to suicide prevention, where enhancing safety and fostering connectedness can reduce suicidality. The findings highlight the need for routine mental health screening and trauma-informed care, particularly for adolescents exposed to violence and victimization. Future research should explore the long-term effects of NV and assess the effectiveness of integrated school- and community-based interventions.

Keywords: Suicide ideation, Adolescents, Mental health, Neighborhood violence, YRBS.