Violence, suicidal attempts and relationships with parents in a group of adolescent girls. Pilot studies

Abstract

Aim of the study: An analysis of the correlation between experiencing peer violence and suicidal behaviours with regard to relationships with parents. Material and methods: The study included 43 girls (aged between 12 and 16 years) admitted to the Department of Paediatrics at the Prof. Antoni Gębala Children’s Hospital in Lublin due to suicidal attempts. The study group consisted of 17 girls who experienced peer violence, while the control group included 26 girls who attempted suicide for other reasons than peer violence. A sociodemographic questionnaire and a metric survey of own design, in which the girls specified the intensity of a given feature on a scale of 1–10, were used. Results: There were statistically significant differences between girls experiencing peer violence vs. control group in terms of the feeling of being unloved by parents (p < 0.04), receiving parental attention (p < 0.002), home safety (p < 0.05), the feeling of being abandoned by parents (p < 0.0003), the feeling of loneliness (p < 0.004), being disliked at school (p < 0.003), having friends (p < 0.01), the number of suicide attempts (p < 0.03), and having thoughts about preparing for an effective suicide attempt (p < 0.01). A strong conviction about having “cool” friends was correlated with a decrease in the number of suicidal thoughts (p < 0.02), belief that the suicide will be successful one day (p < 0.04), and the intensity of thinking about preparing for an effective suicide attempt (p < 0.03). Conclusions: Having friends can indirectly eliminate the consequences of parental failure to meet child’s basic needs as well as reduce suicidal thoughts and attempts. The quality of family relationships may affect the relationships with peers, which is associated with becoming potential victims of violence.

Keywords

• suicidal attempts
• adolescence
• violence
• peer group