Profiles of risk for self-injurious thoughts and behaviors among justice-involved female youth: a latent profile analysis
Date
2022
Authors
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Publisher
University of Delaware
Abstract
Suicide represents a leading cause of death among youth in custodial settings. Research investigating risk factors for suicide among youth involved in the justice system has primarily focused on male youth, limiting our understanding of suicide risk among justice-involved female youth. To begin to fill this gap in the literature, the current study investigated profiles of risk for self-injurious thoughts and behaviors (SITBs) in a sample of justice-involved girls. Participants included 238 racially and ethnically diverse girls involved in the justice system (M/SD age = 14.54/1.65, Hispanic/Latinx = 45.7%, Black = 35.1%). Participants completed self-report measures evaluating risk factors for suicide (e.g., mental health symptoms, risk-taking behavior, trauma exposure), and recent engagement in SITBs. Latent profile analysis revealed three distinct profiles. The first profile was characterized by relatively low levels of all suicide risk indicators (n = 102, “Low Risk”); the second profile was distinguished by elevations in internalizing symptom indicators (n = 42, “High-Risk Internalizing”); and the third profile was defined by relatively high levels of all suicide risk indicators (n = 96; “High-Risk Comorbid”). Girls in the profiles elevated on indicators of suicide risk (second and third profiles) reported more SITBs at baseline and a 3-month follow-up assessment than girls in the low-risk profile (profile one). Results suggest that indicators of suicide risk can be used to classify girls in the justice system into profiles that differ concurrently and prospectively on SITBs. These findings highlight the need for assessments evaluating multiple indicators of risk for SITBs in justice settings.
Description
Keywords
Self-injurious thoughts, Justice-involved, Female youth