(PS2-C53) The Effect of Family Structure on Mental Health, Emotion Regulation, and Suicide Ideation in Adolescents

Purpose: Adolescents experience thoughts of suicide at relatively high rates, with 20% reporting serious suicide thoughts in the past year (CDC, 2021). Identifying potential factors that may affect suicide ideation is therefore very important. Some research indicates that family structure may associate with suicide thoughts and behaviors in adolescents, with those in homes with single parents or step-parents reporting more suicide ideation (Ponnet et al., 2005). Changes in family structure also associates with stress and emotional distress in adolescents (Fosco et al., 2019).  Most existing research on family structure has focused on adolescents residing with two biological parents compared to other structures, but has not compared a variety of family structures. The purpose of the current study was to expand upon prior research to better understand how adolescents with different family structures (biological parents only, stepparent(s) and biological parent(s), single parents, other relatives only [aunt, uncle, grandparent, etc.], and multi-adult [three or more adults in the home]) may have different levels of emotion regulation difficulties and suicide ideation.  It was predicted that those living in homes with both biological parents would have lower suicide ideation, emotion regulation difficulty, and mental health symptoms than adolescents with other family structures.

Participants and Procedure: The data were taken from a longitudinal study of adolescent self-harm behavior conducted in high schools in the south-central region of the United States. The sample included 689 high school students and 54.7% identified as female; the mean age was 15.51 (SD=0.99). Regarding family structure, 45% reported living with biological parents only, 7.3% step-parents, 17% single parents, 10.8% other relatives only, and 10.7% multi-adult. Adolescents with parent consent completed measures at their schools assessing demographics, emotion regulation difficulties, depression and anxiety symptoms, recent suicide ideation severity, and lifetime and past-year suicide ideation frequency.

Results: Results using ANOVA showed significant differences between family structure groups on emotion regulation, anxiety and depression symptoms, and suicide ideation. Homes with biological parents only reported significantly less emotion regulation difficulties, anxiety and depression symptoms, and lifetime and past-year suicide ideation frequency. Homes with single-parents reported the highest suicide ideation severity.  For lifetime and past-year suicide ideation frequency, multiple adult homes showed the highest frequencies.

Conclusion and implications: Results suggest that family structure may be associated with emotion regulation skills, depression and anxiety, and suicide thoughts in adolescents. In line with prior research, adolescents in homes with two biological parents reported less psychopathology and suicide risk. Family structure may reflect economic stability and/or availability of support and resources, which may impact overall coping skills and mental health.  Future research should examine the role of culture when researching how family structure may associate with mental health and suicide risk.