RESUMO
The current study integrates descriptive (though primarily social-psychological) statements about youth suicide into a coherent, empirically supported taxonomy. Drawing from relevant literature, a set of 107 items characterizing these contributions about youth suicide was created. Seventy-two participants sorted these statements according to their "face-value" by following two separate procedures. Analyses of these two data sets using multi-dimensional scaling resulted in a common "map" depicting inter-item (dis)similarities. Non-arbitrary rotation of this map revealed three bipolar and orthogonal dimensions labelled as under- and overengagement, rejection-turmoil, and self- to death-identification. It is suggested this dimensional analysis could provide a viable frame for examining and interpreting descriptions about suicide risk and may serve to extend theoretical accounts.
