Risk factors associated with suicidal behaviour in the adolescent and young population. A literature review

Abstract

Objective. To identify the risk factors associated with suicidal behaviour in young people aged between 15 and 29 years. Material and methods. A literature review was carried out by searching the PubMed, CINAHL (Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature), Web of Science and CUIDEN databases. MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) and DeCS (Health Sciences Descriptors) terms were used, combined with the Boolean operators AND and NOT. The review was conducted from December 2023 to February 2024. Finally, a synthesis of the scientific articles obtained was produced in accordance with the selected inclusion and exclusion criteria. Results. A total of 15 articles were collected across the different databases. Among the results obtained, psychopathological comorbidity, previous suicide attempts, being female and/or belonging to the LGBTIQ+ community appear as risk factors for suicidal behaviour. Regarding socioeconomic variables, socioeconomic disadvantage stands out. In addition, lack of social support and family dysfunction were noted as risk factors, as well as a biological history of family suicide. Finally, it is important to mention the direct relationship between non-suicidal self-injury and substance abuse with suicidal ideation and completed suicide. Conclusions. There are numerous individual, psychopathological, behavioural and contextual characteristics that are not defining of suicidal behaviour but which may nonetheless act as risk factors, thus increasing the likelihood of presenting suicidal ideation or behaviour in young people and adolescents.