Predictores de conductas suicidas en adolescentes: ansiedad, depresión y consumo de sustancias

Abstract

This study aimed to analyze suicidal behaviors in relation to anxiety, depression, and substance use among male and female adolescents aged 11 to 15 years enrolled in basic education in Saltillo, Coahuila. A sample of 541 students was selected through non-probability convenience sampling. Participants completed a questionnaire composed of four scales: the Paykel Suicide Scale, the Goldberg Anxiety and Depression Scales, and a substance use scale specifically designed for this study to assess consumption during social gatherings. All scales were adapted to the context of the participants and validated using exploratory factor analysis and Cronbach’s alpha.

Multiple linear regression analyses revealed that, in the overall sample, suicidal behaviors were significantly predicted by anxiety (B=0.367), depression (B=0.303), and substance use (B=0.167), with an explanatory value of R²=0.459. When disaggregated by sex, results showed that for males, suicidal behaviors were mainly predicted by anxiety and substance use (R²=0.371), while for females, anxiety and depression were stronger predictors (R²=0.436). These findings underscore the importance of understanding suicidal behaviors in adolescents as a multifactorial phenomenon linked to both emotional and behavioral variables, with significant gender differences. The evidence highlights the urgent need to design and implement school-based mental health programs with a gender-sensitive approach. Such interventions should prioritize the early detection of emotional symptoms, the reduction of substance use, and the promotion of protective environments to decrease vulnerability to suicidal behaviors among adolescents.