Trends in Research on Adolescent Suicide Interventions

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: This study was designed to analyze recent trends in adolescent suicide intervention research in Korea and to suggest future research directions in this area. METHODS: Studies Thirty-four studies selected from http://www.riss4u.net over the for last 20 years were analyzed by field and design of the study, study participants, and the outcome variables used in intervention studies. RESULTS: Nineteen (55.9%) of the 34 studies were conducted in the fields of welfare (9), psychology (5) and nursing science (5). Ordinary adolescents were the most frequently studied participants. A nonequivalent control group pretest-posttest design was used in twenty one (61.7%) of the 34 studies. The most frequently measured outcome variables were depression, suicidal ideation and self-esteem. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that research on adolescent suicide intervention programs is expanding with a focus on ordinary adolescents as and subjects. In order to prevent suicide, research on family, teachers, and friends, who all are important parts of a teenager's support system, is needed. It is also necessary to develop a post-management intervention program to prevent recurrence in high-risk teenagers who have attempted suicide.