Evaluación del riesgo suicida y estrés asociado en adolescentes estudiantes mexicanos

Abstract

The measurement of stress and anxiety produced by recent life events is crucial to the assessment of suicidal risk in adolescents. The Life Events for Adolescents questionnaire, incorporating stress coping styles, is a proven instrument for detecting and assessing the impact of adverse events among adolescents. The Inventory of Suicidal Risk for Adolescents (IRIS) is a screening test aimed at detecting risk for suicidal behavior. The sample for the present study included 341 Mexican adolescents from Mexico City, with ages ranging from 13 to 18 years old (X̄= 14.5; SD= 1.6). Correlations between these instruments showed that risk profdes are highly related, especially between personal and social adjustment and interpersonal relationships. We conclude that a broader and more detailed evaluation of young students at risk of emotional distress and suicide is possible by using these two instruments together as part of a school-based screening strategy.