Negative Urgency and Lack of Perseverance Predict Suicidal Ideation and Attempts Among Young Adolescents
Date
2024-11-21
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Journal of Clinical Child & Adolescent Psychology
Abstract
Objective
Impulsivity has been recognized as an important factor in suicidal thoughts and behaviors (STBs). However, previous research linking impulsivity to STBs has largely relied on cross-sectional designs, considered only a subset of impulsivity measures, and typically focused on middle-to-older adolescents. Here, we explored multiple measures of impulsivity and assessed their predictive relation to suicidal ideation and suicide attempts.
Method
In a sample of 10,286 adolescents (ages 9–12; 47.4% female, 76.4% White, 19.4% Black, 6.4% Asian, 3.5% American Indian/Alaskan Native, 0.6% Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander, 6.4% Other, 19.4% Hispanic, 12.1% Mixed/Multiple Race) from the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development℠ Study (ABCD Study®), we assessed impulsivity when youth were 9–10 years old, and suicidal ideation and attempts when youth were 11–12 years old. We measured impulsivity in three ways: a trait-like measure (UPPS-P Impulsive Behavior Scale), a behavioral measure (delay discounting task), and a neural measure (Cortical Delay Discounting [C-DD]). Suicidal ideation and attempts were assessed using the Kiddie Schedule for Affective Disorder and Schizophrenia (KSADS) suicide module.
Results
Negative urgency and lack of perseverance (at ages 9–10) significantly predicted a higher likelihood of suicidal ideation (Negative Urgency: Odds Ratio [OR] = 1.254, p < .001; Lack of Perseverance: OR = 1.152, p = .035) and suicide attempts (Negative Urgency: OR = 1.328, p = .009; Lack of Perseverance: OR = 1.270, p = .009) when youth were 11–12 years old.
Conclusions
Negative urgency and lack of perseverance are robust predictors of future suicidal ideation and suicide attempts in young adolescents. These findings highlight the importance of assessing for and targeting these dimensions of impulsivity in clinical settings.
Description
This is an Accepted Manuscript of an article published by Taylor & Francis in Journal of Clinical Child & Adolescent Psychology on 11/21/2025, available at: https://doi.org/10.1080/15374416.2024.2426128.
© 2024 Society of Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology, Division 53, American Psychological Association. All Rights Reserved.
This article will be embargoed until 11/21/2025.
Keywords
Citation
Scheve, Ben, Zhuoran Xiang, Brendan Lam, Naomi Sadeh, and Arielle Baskin-Sommers. 2024. “Negative Urgency and Lack of Perseverance Predict Suicidal Ideation and Attempts Among Young Adolescents.” Journal of Clinical Child & Adolescent Psychology, November, 1–11. doi:10.1080/15374416.2024.2426128.