FAMILY ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS AS CORRELATES FOR ADOLESCENT SUICIDAL BEHAVIORS IN THE LIMPOPO PROVINCE OF SOUTH AFRICA

The perceived family environmental factors that could correlate with adolescent suicidal behaviors in the Limpopo Province (South Africa) were investigated. The participants were 435 secondary school adolescents from the Pietersburg area in the Limpopo Province of whom 56% were female, and 44% were male, aged between 15–19 years. A questionnaire was used to determine demographic variables, family environmental factors (Moos & Moos, 1989), and suicidal behaviors. Logistic regression analysis showed that: conflict in a family was a significant correlate for three forms of suicidal behaviors studied; family independence, family cohesion, and family organization were also indicated as significant correlates for suicidal threats, however, family independence and organization correlate negatively with suicidal threat. Mental health workers and educators should consider these findings when planning preventive and therapeutic strategies for the minimization of suicidal behaviors among adolescents in the province.