Suicidal behaviour, risky eating behaviours and psychosocial correlates in Mexican female students

Abstract

Objective: To determine the frequency of suicidal behaviour and its characteristics, and its association to different variables such as: depressive symptomatology, risky eating behaviours, suicidal ideation, experience of sexual abuse and the relationship with mother and father, as well as to identify the protective and risk factors. Method: Cross-sectional study of a sample of high school and college female students (N = 405 with a mean age of 18.5 years, SD = 3). Results: Ten per cent of the women in the sample displayed suicidal behaviour at some point in their lives. The statistical analysis showed significant differences between students with and without suicidal behaviours in all variables measured except for father's support. A positive association was found between the father's emotional mistreatment, suicidal ideation and risky eating behaviours, as well as a negative association with the mother's affect. Copyright (c) 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and Eating Disorders Association.