Advances in Psychiatry and Neurology
eISSN: 2720-5371
ISSN: 1230-2813
Advances in Psychiatry and Neurology/Postępy Psychiatrii i Neurologii
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2/2025
vol. 34
 
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abstract:
Original article

Prevalence of and factors in suicidal thoughts in 14-15-year-olds. A Polish-Ukrainian study

Krzysztof Ostaszewski
1
,
Milena Markiewicz
1
,
Maryna Klimanska
2
,
Inna Haletska
2
,
Halyna Herasym
3
,
Larysa Klymanska
3
,
Iryna Mirchuk
4
,
Viktor Savka
3
,
Oksana Zelena
4

  1. Institute of Psychiaty and Neurology, Warsaw, Poland
  2. Ivan Franko National University of Lviv, Ukraine
  3. Lviv Polytechnic National Universitу, Ukraine
  4. Drohobych Ivan Franko State Pedagogical University, Ukraine
Adv Psychiatry Neurol 2025; 34 (2): 75-86
DOI: https://doi.org/10.5114/ppn.2025.151776
Online publish date: 2025/06/18
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Purpose
Adolescent suicidal behaviour is a serious and concerning public health problem that requires ongoing attention. The study aimed to assess the prevalence of suicidal thoughts among 14-15-year-olds in Lviv (Ukraine) and Warsaw (Poland) and to identify associated psychosocial factors.

Methods
Self-report data were collected online in Autumn 2020 in two randomly selected samples of adolescents aged 14-15 living in Lviv (N = 1085) and Warsaw (N = 794). School classrooms were the source of the randomized samples. Differences in the prevalence of suicidal thoughts and risk/protective factors in the two study locations were analysed. The questionnaire and methodology were taken from the Polish Mokotów study.

Results
Significantly more adolescents in Warsaw (25.0%) declared having had suicidal thoughts at least once or twice in the previous year than those in Lviv (16.3%). In both locations, suicidal thoughts were significantly more prevalent among girls. Regression ana­lyses indicated that symptoms of depression, lack of energy, emotional or mental health problems that prompted consultation with a specialist, online victimisation, and being in the company of peers who use drugs were associated with an increased frequency of suicidal thoughts both in Lviv and Warsaw. Alcohol use/abuse and feeling unsafe at school appeared to be risk factors in Lviv only. Positive family relationships reduced the frequency of suicidal thoughts and buffered the negative impact of symptoms of depression in both samples. Religiosity was a statistically significant protective factor in Lviv.

Conclusions
Despite some limitations, such as the use of a single-item tool to measure suicidal thoughts and the cross-sectional design of the study, the results provide support for preventive measures that include early detection and treatment of adolescent depressive disorders and other mental health problems, helping families maintain good relationships with their teenage children, countering cyberbullying, and increasing the sense of security at school as well as preventing risky behaviours.

keywords:

adolescents, suicidal thoughts, risk factors, protective factor
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