This study was conducted to identify predictors that would differentiate juvenile delinquents with experience of suicidal ideation from those without experience of suicidal ideation. MMPI-A and Adolescent Behavior Assessment Scales were administered t...
This study was conducted to identify predictors that would differentiate juvenile delinquents with experience of suicidal ideation from those without experience of suicidal ideation. MMPI-A and Adolescent Behavior Assessment Scales were administered to 149 incarcerated male juvenile delinquents in order to evaluate psychopathology (depression, alcohol/drug problems, psychoticism), personality traits (impulsiveness, aggressiveness), interpersonal relations (parent-child relationship problems, peer relationship problems, teacher-student relationship problems, interpersonal immaturity), and developmental tasks (learning problems, school maladjustment, career problems). The data were analyzed through discriminant analyses with the 12 factors as predictors and the status (i.e., presence, absence) of experience of suicidal ideation as the criterion variable. The results of the discriminant analysis (Enter) showed that all of the 12 predictors were significant and the overall correct classification percentage was 69.8%. The results of the discriminant analysis (Stepwise) revealed that only two predictors (i.e., depression, alcohol/drug problems) were significant. The discriminant function with the two predictors yielded the overall correct classification percentage of 69.8%, which was the same as that in the discriminant function with all of the 12 predictors. The degree of sensitivity (i.e., the percentage of correctly classifying juvenile delinquents who actually had thought about suicide into a group with experience of suicidal ideation) was approximately 60%. These results imply that depression and alcohol/drug problems be significant predictors of suicidal ideation in juvenile delinquents. Thus, these predictors need to be included in the procedure of screening juvenile delinquents at risk for suicide. Practical implications for understanding of adolescent suicidal ideation and intervening with juvenile delinquents at risk for suicide and suggestions for further research were presented.