Suicidality, School Dropout, and Reading Problems Among Adolescents

TLDR

Understanding the link between reading difficulties, suicidality, and school dropout is essential for prevention. The study examined whether adolescents with poor reading are at higher risk for suicidal ideation, attempts, and school dropout compared to peers with typical reading. Participants and parents completed repeated assessments of suicidality, psychiatric and sociodemographic factors, and school dropout over time. Adolescents with poor reading had higher rates of suicidality and school dropout, and suicidality and dropout were strongly linked.

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine the risk of suicidal ideation and suicide attempts and school dropout among youth with poor reading in comparison to youth with typical reading ( n = 188) recruited from public schools at the age of 15. In a prospective naturalistic study, youth and parents participated in repeated research assessments to obtain information about suicide ideation and attempts, psychiatric and sociodemographic variables, and school dropout. Youth with poor reading ability were more likely to experience suicidal ideation or attempts and more likely to drop out of school than youth with typical reading, even after controlling for sociodemographic and psychiatric variables. Suicidality and school dropout were strongly associated with each other. Prevention efforts should focus on better understanding the relationship between these outcomes, as well as on the developmental paths leading up to these behaviors among youth with reading difficulties.