Protective Factors against Self-Harm and Suicidality among Australian Indigenous Adolescents: A Strengths-Based Analysis of the Longitudinal Study of Indigenous Children
Article
Article Title | Protective Factors against Self-Harm and Suicidality among Australian Indigenous Adolescents: A Strengths-Based Analysis of the Longitudinal Study of Indigenous Children |
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ERA Journal ID | 44293 |
Article Category | Article |
Authors | Islam, Md Irteja, Sharwood, Lisa, Chadwick, Verity, Esgin, Tuguy and Martiniuk, Alexandra |
Journal Title | International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health |
Journal Citation | 19 (15) |
Article Number | 9131 |
Number of Pages | 17 |
Year | 2022 |
Publisher | MDPI AG |
Place of Publication | Switzerland |
ISSN | 1660-4601 |
1661-7827 | |
Digital Object Identifier (DOI) | https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19159131 |
Web Address (URL) | https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/19/15/9131 |
Abstract | Background: Understanding and encouraging social and emotional well-being (SEWB) among Indigenous adolescents is vital in countering the impacts of colonisation and intergenerational trauma. As self-harm and suicidality are considered markers of poor SEWB among Indigenous communities, we aimed to identify the individual-level and community-level factors protecting Indigenous adolescents from self-harm and suicidality. Methods: Data came from Footprints in Time—The Longitudinal Study of Indigenous Children (waves 10 and 11), conducted among Indigenous families across Australia. A strengths-based analysis fitted multilevel logistic regression to explore associations with factors proposed as protective against self-reported self-harm and suicidality among Indigenous adolescents. Results: Our study cohort included 365 adolescents with complete data for the variables of interest. Adolescents had a mean (SD) age of 14.04 (0.45) years and a sex ratio of almost 1:1, and most were attending school (96.2%). Previous self-harm was reported by 8.2% (n = 30); previous suicidality was reported by 4.1% (n = 15). Individual-level factors protecting against self-harm and suicidality were being male, living in a cohesive family, and having low total Strengths and Difficulty Questionnaire scores (p < 0.05 for all). Residing in major cities compared with regional/remote areas was protective against self-harm (OR 5.94, 95% CI 1.31–26.81). Strong cultural identity was not found to be a protective factor against self-harm and/or suicidality in the sample. Conclusions: This study identified key individual- and community-level factors that can protect Australian Indigenous adolescents against self-harm and suicidality, particularly family cohesion. Identifying strengths for this at-risk population can inform prevention strategies, particularly for rural living adolescents with high distress. |
Keywords | adolescent; adolescent health; health and wellbeing; indigenous peoples; self-injurious behaviour; suicide |
Contains Sensitive Content | Contains sensitive content |
ANZSRC Field of Research 2020 | 4203. Health services and systems |
Funder | National Health and Medical Research Council |
Byline Affiliations | Library Services |
University of Sydney | |
Centre for Health Research | |
University of New South Wales | |
University of Technology Sydney | |
Department of Health, New South Wales | |
Edith Cowan University | |
George Institute for Global Health, Australia | |
University of Toronto, Canada |
https://research.usq.edu.au/item/yyx22/protective-factors-against-self-harm-and-suicidality-among-australian-indigenous-adolescents-a-strengths-based-analysis-of-the-longitudinal-study-of-indigenous-children
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