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Cited by 886Suicide and Self-Harm StudiesHomicide, Infanticide, and Child AbuseLGBTQ Health, Identity, and Policy

Gender differences in suicidal behavior in adolescents and young adults: systematic review and meta-analysis of longitudinal studies

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Miranda-Mendizabal, Andrea, Castellví, Pere, Parés-Badell, Oleguer, Alayo, Itxaso, Almenara, José, Alonso, Iciar, Blasco, Maria Jesús, Cebrià, Annabel +10 more·2019·International Journal of Public Health
DOI 10.1007/s00038-018-1196-1PMC PMC6439147
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Abstract

OBJECTIVES: To assess the association between gender and suicide attempt/death and identify gender-specific risk/protective factors in adolescents/young adults. METHODS: Systematic review (5 databases until January 2017). Population-based longitudinal studies considering non-clinical populations, aged 12-26 years, assessing associations between gender and suicide attempts/death, or evaluating their gender risk/protective factors, were included. Random effect meta-analyses were performed. RESULTS: Sixty-seven studies were included. Females presented higher risk of suicide attempt (OR 1.96, 95% CI 1.54-2.50), and males for suicide death (HR 2.50, 95% CI 1.8-3.6). Common risk factors of suicidal behaviors for both genders are previous mental or substance abuse disorder and exposure to interpersonal violence. Female-specific risk factors for suicide attempts are eating disorder, posttraumatic stress disorder, bipolar disorder, being victim of dating violence, depressive symptoms, interpersonal problems and previous abortion. Male-specific risk factors for suicide attempt are disruptive behavior/conduct problems, hopelessness, parental separation/divorce, friend's suicidal behavior, and access to means. Male-specific risk factors for suicide death are drug abuse, externalizing disorders, and access to means. For females, no risk factors for suicide death were studied. CONCLUSIONS: More evidence about female-specific risk/protective factors of suicide death, for adolescent/young adults, is needed.

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  • Miranda-Mendizabal et al. (2019) found an association between a family's previous suicidal behavior and the risk of female youth suicide attempts (OR 2.84).

    “Miranda-Mendizabal et al. (2019) also found an association between a family’s previous suicidal behavior and the risk of female youth suicide attempts (OR: 2.84).”

    From Risk and Protective Factors of Self-harm and Suicidality in Adolescents: An Umbrella Review with Meta-Analysis (2024) · cites this paper as Miranda-Mendizabal et al. (2019)

    The Results section, under “Suicide attempts,” assigns the OR of 2.84 for previous suicidal behavior in the family to males, not females. It says this association with suicide attempts was found only among males. No page number is provided in the supplied passage. (LLM, conf=0.95)

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  • There are significant associations between childhood maltreatment and suicidal behavior for female adolescents (OR 2.76).

    “The review found significant associations between childhood maltreatment and suicidal behavior for female (OR: 2.76) and male adolescents (OR: 3.77) (Table 1).”

    From Risk and Protective Factors of Self-harm and Suicidality in Adolescents: An Umbrella Review with Meta-Analysis (2024) · cites this paper as Miranda-Mendizabal et al. (2019)

    The Results section (Specific risk factors for suicidal behavior stratified by gender, Suicide attempts) reports a significant association between childhood maltreatment and suicide attempts in females, but gives the female OR as 3.77. The OR of 2.76 is for males; the citing sentence reverses the two values. (LLM, conf=0.90)

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  • Female youth were almost six times more at risk to attempt suicide if they have had previous suicide attempts (OR 6.96).

    “female youth were almost six times more at risk to attempt suicide if they have had previous suicide attempts (OR: 6.96).”

    From Risk and Protective Factors of Self-harm and Suicidality in Adolescents: An Umbrella Review with Meta-Analysis (2024) · cites this paper as Miranda-Mendizabal et al. (2019)

    The Results section on gender-stratified risk factors reports that previous suicide attempts were associated with later attempts among females (OR 6.96, 95% CI 3.75–12.91). The cited OR is correct, but 6.96 is nearly seven, not “almost six,” and an odds ratio does not directly state a risk ratio. (LLM, conf=0.86)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured

  • Female youth were almost twice as likely to experience suicidal behavior (OR 1.96).

    “Miranda-Mendizabal et al. (2019) found that female youth were almost twice as likely to experience suicidal behavior (OR: 1.96).”

    From Risk and Protective Factors of Self-harm and Suicidality in Adolescents: An Umbrella Review with Meta-Analysis (2024) · cites this paper as Miranda-Mendizabal et al. (2019)

    The Results section reports that females had higher pooled odds of suicide attempts than males (OR 1.96, 95% CI 1.54–2.50). The citing sentence extends that estimate to suicidal behavior generally, but the reported OR is specifically for attempts, not suicide death or all suicidal behavior. (LLM, conf=0.91)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured

  • Major Depressive Disorder had the highest association with suicidal behavior for male youth (OR 6.07).

    “Major Depressive Disorder had the highest association with suicidal behavior for female youth (OR: 4.49) and male youth (OR: 6.07) (Table 1).”

    From Risk and Protective Factors of Self-harm and Suicidality in Adolescents: An Umbrella Review with Meta-Analysis (2024) · cites this paper as Miranda-Mendizabal et al. (2019)

    The Results (Specific risk factors for suicidal behavior stratified by gender) report an OR of 6.07 for major depressive disorder and suicide attempts among males. But it was not the highest association reported for male youth: previous suicide attempts had an OR of 31.33, and disruptiveness had an OR of 8.78. (LLM, conf=0.91)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured

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Authors
Miranda-Mendizabal, A., Castellví, P., Parés-Badell, O., Alayo, I., Almenara, J., Alonso, I., Blasco, M. J., Cebrià, A., Gabilondo, A., Gili, M., Lagares, C., Piqueras, J. A., Rodríguez-Jiménez, T., Rodríguez-Marín, J., Roca, M., Soto-Sanz, V., Vilagut, G., & Alonso, J.
Affiliations
  • Universidad de Jaén (ES)
  • Hospital Del Mar (ES)
  • Universidad de Cádiz (ES)
  • Hospital General Universitario Morales Meseguer (ES)
  • Biogipuzkoa Health Research Institute (ES)
  • Research Institute of Health Sciences (ES)
  • Universitat Pompeu Fabra (ES)
Corresponding author
Alonso, Jordi
ORCID
Venue
International Journal of Public Health
Publisher
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Published
2019-01-12
Volume
64
Issue
2
Pages
265-283
ISSN
  • 1661-8556 (ISSN-L)
  • 1661-8564
DOI
10.1007/s00038-018-1196-1
PMC
PMC6439147
OpenAlex
W2909582016
Cited by
886
References
16
Citations by year
2026: 132 · 2025: 162 · 2024: 187 · 2023: 138 · 2022: 100 · 2021: 96 · 2020: 57 · 2019: 9 · 2018: 1
FWCI
10.37
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
  • International Journal of Public Health (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Hispana (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • RECERCAT (Consorci de Serveis Universitaris de Catalunya) (publishedVersion, other-oa)
  • RePEc: Research Papers in Economics (submittedVersion)
  • Docusalut (Conselleria de Salut i Consum del Govern de les Illes Balears) (submittedVersion, cc-by)
  • Hispana (submittedVersion, cc-by)
  • Repositori digital de la UPF (Universitat Pompeu Fabra) (submittedVersion, cc-by)
Funders
  • Instituto de Salud Carlos III (CD12/00440, FEDER (PI13/00343), CM14/00125, ECA07/059)
  • Departament d'Innovació, Universitats i Empresa, Generalitat de Catalunya ([2014 SGR 748])
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Suicide and Self-Harm Studies
  • Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Homicide, Infanticide, and Child Abuse
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › LGBTQ Health, Identity, and Policy
Keywords
gender differences, suicide attempts, suicide mortality, adolescents, young adults, risk factors, protective factors, eating disorders, post-traumatic stress disorder, bipolar disorder, dating violence, substance abuse, hopelessness, parental separation, depressive symptoms, interpersonal violence
MeSH terms
Adolescent, Adolescent Behavior, Adult, Female, Humans, Longitudinal Studies, Male, Risk Factors, Sex Factors, Suicide, Attempted, Violence, Substance-Related Disorders, Young Adult, Suicidal Ideation, Protective Factors

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