Are social supports associated with suicidal ideation based on gender differences among adolescents in Indonesia?

Abstract

The proportion of Indonesian junior and senior high school students considering suicide was around 5.2% in 2015. This research analysed the association between social supports and suicidal ideation based on gender differences among adolescents in Indonesia. Methods: This cross-sectional study analysed secondary data from the Global School-based Health Survey (GSHS). The 9,333 respondents were aged 11 to 18 years. The dependent variable was suicidal ideation in the past 12 months before the survey. The independent variables were peer support, parent support, and parent attention. The multivariable analysis applied the enter method to examine the adjusted effect causing the dependent variable. Result: Boys had a higher risk than girls of considering suicide on all of the associated independent variables, including boys aged <15 years (AOR 6.134, 95% CI 4.342–8.665), boys in junior high school (AOR 3.160, 95% CI 2.205–4.528), boys with no peer support (AOR 4.230, 95% CI 2.996–5.972), boys with no parental support (AOR 2.481, 95% CI 1.686–3.650) and boys with no parental attention (AOR 3.268, 95% CI 2.292–4.658). Conclusion: Boys with no peer support had a 4.230 times higher risk of suicidal ideation.