An Examination of the Relationship Between Dating Violence, Suicide, and School Connectedness in United States Adolescents

Abstract

This study examined the relationship between adolescent dating violence and suicidal ideation, using school connectedness as a potential protective factor. The study used secondary data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health (n=3985). A regression analysis was used to examine the relationship between dating violence, suicidal ideation, and school connectedness in adolescents, controlling for race, gender, age, parent’s education level, and friends and family suicide attempts within the past year. The relationship between dating violence and suicidal ideation did not yield significant results when protected by school connectedness (p = .506). Implications and future directions are discussed, and results from this study can be used to further educate the public on the risks of adolescent suicide.