Childhood psychological maltreatment is a well-studied predictor of adolescent suicide ideation, while social support is a protective factor, but little is known about social-cognitive mechanisms that may link psychological maltreatment to suicide ideation. Further, given the impact that culture, race/ethnicity, and gender can have on social relationships and suicide-related risk factors, these mechanisms may differ across demographic groups.
Objective: The current study examined whether psychological maltreatment predicts suicide ideation through self-perception of social competence, and whether this relationship differs depending on race/ethnicity and gender.
Method: We analyzed a racially diverse, longitudinal sample of adolescents at risk for maltreatment (N = 765). Self-report measures of lifetime maltreatment were completed at age 12 and combined with data from Child Protective Services. Youth also completed measures of perceived social competence at age 12. Indicators of suicide ideation were taken at ages 8, 12, 16, and 18.
Results: Perceived social competence scores differed significantly between children who were psychologically maltreated and those who were not, but these differences were nonsignificant for physical and sexual abuse. Self-perception of social competence fully mediated the relationship between childhood psychological maltreatment and suicide ideation for White girls and boys.
Conclusions: Our findings suggest that poor perceived social competence is uniquely associated with psychological maltreatment, and White adolescents may develop suicide ideation through specific mechanisms involving social cognition. Certain youth may benefit from interventions improving social cognitions and promoting healthy relationships to prevent suicide ideation during adolescence.
Keywords: gender differences; psychological maltreatment; race and ethnicity; social cognition; social competence; suicide ideation.