Loneliness and perceived social support as potential mediators of the longitudinal relationship between adolescent social anxiety symptoms and suicidal ideation

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Gallagher, Michelle Lee
- Affiliation: College of Arts and Sciences, Department of Psychology and Neuroscience

Abstract

Recent research has shown that social anxiety may be related to increased risk for suicidal ideation in teens. A sample of 144 adolescents 12-15 years old was assessed during psychiatric inpatient hospitalization and followed up at 9 and 18 months postbaseline. Symptoms of social anxiety, depression, suicidal ideation, loneliness, and perceived social support were assessed via structured interviews and self-report instruments. Structural equation modeling revealed a significant direct relationship between baseline social anxiety symptoms and suicidal ideation at 18 months postbaseline, even after controlling for baseline depressive symptoms and ideation. Loneliness at 9 months postbaseline was shown to have a significant indirect effect on the relationship between baseline social anxiety and suicidal ideation at 18 months postbaseline. Perceived social support from parents and close friends did not have a significant indirect effect. Findings suggest that loneliness may be particularly implicated in the relationship between social anxiety and suicidality in teens.

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