Suicide attempts in mexican teenagers: a cultural consensus theory perspective

El suicidio es un problema de salud pública mundial y los adolescentes son los que presentan con mayor frecuencia esta problemática. El estudio realizado identifica la estructura semántica del dominio cultural, el promedio de conocimiento y el grado de consenso cultural que sobre el suicidio tienen adolescentes con tentativa suicida. El trabajo es un estudio cualitativo mediante la técnica de listas libres. Participaron 29 adolescentes (13 a 18 años). Las listas libres fueron sobre: las causas; los signos y los síntomas; lo que siente, piensa y hace un adolescente antes de cometer suicidio y las estrategias de prevención de éste. Los resultados muestran para cada pregunta un único modelo semántico en el dominio cultural. En lo estructural se identifican los problemas familiares como la causa del intento suicida; la depresión y la tristeza son síntomas previos al intento suicida. La tristeza y la soledad, salir del problema y suicidarse es lo que considera que siente, piensa y hace un adolescente previo al intento de suicidio. Como estrategias de prevención, se identifican le ponga más atención y hablar con él. Los resultados ponderan la importancia de la familia para los programas de prevención de las conductas suicidas en adolescentes. The suicide is a problem of public world health and the adolescents are those who present with more frequency this problem. Nevertheless, the studies of the suicide phenomenon from a cultural perspective are limited. Cultural research in suicidology is important to develop the understanding of the meanings of suicidal behavior in different contexts. The cultural consensus theory would contribute to the cultural perspective of the knowledge of suicidal behaviors in terms of its internal elements and their functioning (emic) and this theory allows knowing if there exists a knowledge shared by a social group regarding an issue and allows to recognize its organization. The aim of this study was to identify the semantic structure of the cultural domain, as well as the average of knowledge and the degree of cultural consensus regarding suicide among adolescent suicide attempters. It was a qualitative study, using the free-listing technique, with a non-random sample made up of 29 adolescents between the ages of 13 and 18 years. The free lists were on: the causes; the signs and the symptoms; what he/she feels, thinks and does before attempting suicide and the strategies of suicide prevention at adolescence. The results showed for every question a single semantic model in the cultural domain suicide attempt. In such structure, the family problems were identified as the cause of suicidal attempt; the depression and the sadness were symptoms before suicidal attempt. The sadness, the loneliness and the anger were what an adolescent feels before the suicide attempt. Furthermore, to get out of the problem and to end his/her life were what an adolescent thinks before attempting suicide and to commit suicide was what an adolescent does before to suicide attempt. To pay more attention, to talk with the adolescent, to improve the communication with the parents and to attend a psychotherapy were identified as strategies for suicide prevention. The results highlight the importance of the family of suicide prevention programs for adolescents based on cultural knowledge.ITESO, A.C.Universidad de GuadalajaraInstituto Mexicano del Seguro SocialPsicólogos Especializados Jalisc

Del contexto cultural al funcionamiento familiar. Conocimientos compartidos y relaciones familiares en adolescentes con intento de suicidio

El objetivo de este texto es identificar y comparar la estructura semántica del dominio cultural, el conocimiento promedio y el grado de consenso cultural sobre las causas del intento de suicidio, los síntomas previos y las estrategias de prevención del intento de suicidio, además evaluar el funcionamiento familiar entre adolescentes mexicanos con y sin intento de suicidio. Se presenta un estudio mixto metodológicamente que usa la técnica de listas libres y el inventario de recursos familiares en una muestra propositiva de 65 adolescentes (13 a 18 años) divididos en dos grupos: el grupo de adolescentes con tentativa suicida y un grupo control con adolescentes estudiantes sin antecedentes de conductas suicidas. Los problemas familiares fueron la principal causa del intento suicida, mientras que la depresión y la tristeza fueron síntomas previos a una tentativa suicida en ambos grupos. La ayuda psicológica y el desarrollo de habilidades de escucha en los padres fueron señaladas como las estrategias para la prevención del suicidio. Respecto del funcionamiento familiar, los adolescentes con tentativa suicida percibieron más conflictos familiares y menor comunicación y apoyo en sus familias en comparación con el grupo control. Los resultados sugieren un conocimiento compartido culturalmente sobre las causas, los síntomas y las estrategias de prevención del intento de suicidio en los adolescentes, el cual se confirma en la percepción del funcionamiento familiar. La familia, elemento central en la cultura mexicana, debe ser considerada en las estrategias de prevención del intento de suicidio en los adolescentes en México. AIM: The aim of the study was to identify and to compare the semantic structure of the cultural domain, the average knowledge and the degree of cultural consensus regarding knowledge of suicide attempts cause, symptoms and prevention strategies to suicide attempt and the family functioning among Mexican adolescents with and without previous suicide attempt. Method: It was a mixed study, using the free-listing technique and an inventory of family resources, with a non-random sample of 65 adolescents (13-18 years) divided in two groups. The suicide attempters group and the control group were high school students, without a history of suicide behaviors. Results: Family problems were identified as the most important cause of suicide attempts in both groups, while depression and sadness were identified as symptoms prior to the suicide attempt in both groups. Psychological aid and development of listening skills in the parents were the most frequent responses regarding prevention strategies to suicide attempt. Regarding family functioning teenage suicide attempters showed more family conflict, less family communication and support than teenage non suicide attempters. Conclusions: The results suggest a same cultural knowledge background regarding causes, symptoms prior and prevention strategies to suicide attempt in Mexican adolescents. Mexican culture centered in family relationships is important to be considered in design of prevention strategies to suicide attempt in adolescence in Mexico.ITESO, A.C