Family Conflict and Suicidal Behaviour in Adolescence: The Mediating Role of the Assertive Interpersonal Schema

Dalila Eslava, Carmela Martínez-Vispo, Víctor J. Villanueva-Blasco (), José M. Errasti and Susana Al-Halabí
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Dalila Eslava: Department of Psychology, University of Oviedo, 33003 Oviedo, Spain
Carmela Martínez-Vispo: Smoking and Addictive Disorders Unit, Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychobiology, University of Santiago de Compostela, 15782 Santiago de Compostela, Spain
Víctor J. Villanueva-Blasco: Faculty of Health Sciences, Valencian International University, 46002 Valencia, Spain
José M. Errasti: Department of Psychology, University of Oviedo, 33003 Oviedo, Spain
Susana Al-Halabí: Department of Psychology, University of Oviedo, 33003 Oviedo, Spain

Sustainability, 2023, vol. 15, issue 6, 1-10

Abstract: Suicidal behaviour in adolescents is a significant problem worldwide. Family plays an important role in this issue, with family conflict associated with a greater likelihood of current suicidal ideation and suicide attempts. It has been suggested that the relationship between these two variables may be mediated by how social information is handled. The assertive interpersonal schema, which helps to understand conflict as a normal experience, may be a relevant variable. The aim of this study was to examine the direct and indirect effects of family conflict on suicidal behaviour through the assertive interpersonal schema in an adolescent sample. The sample comprised 229 participants (52.8% boys, M(SD)age = 15.76 years (1.24)). A total of 29.7% of the participants reported suicidal ideation, and 4.8% indicated having attempted suicide in the previous two weeks. Family conflict was positively related to suicidal ideation and suicide attempts. A multiple mediation analysis showed that both effects were significant in all the dependent variables, with the assertive interpersonal schema explaining a large part of the effect of family conflict, particularly for suicidal ideation. These findings have implications for the prevention and treatment of this problem in adolescents.

Keywords: suicidal behaviour; suicidal ideation; suicide attempts; family conflict; assertiveness; adolescence (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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