What the study found
The study found that several risk and protective factors were associated with suicidal behaviour among 14- to 15-year-olds in Poland and war-affected Western Ukraine. The authors report that resilience factors such as family support, school safety, and individual strengths were linked to lower risk, while traumatic experiences and certain mental health problems were linked to higher risk.
Why the authors say this matters
The authors conclude that the findings support resilience models, meaning that individual strengths, family resources, and a safe school environment can moderate the negative consequences of traumatic experiences on adolescent suicidal behaviour. They also state that the findings suggest a need for targeted interventions that strengthen family and school support systems.
What the researchers tested
The researchers used online self-report questionnaires in autumn 2024 with 14- to 15-year-olds in Western Ukraine and Warsaw, Poland. They examined suicidal behaviour and a range of risk factors, including traumatic experiences, victimization, depression symptoms, non-suicidal self-injury, conduct problems, problematic internet use, substance use, impulsiveness, and sensation seeking, as well as protective factors from family, school, and individual domains. They tested resilience models using hierarchical linear regression.
What worked and what didn't
More teenagers in Warsaw than in Lviv and Drohobych reported suicidal thoughts, suicide planning, and suicide attempts. In both countries, suicidal behaviour was associated with traumatic experiences, victimization, depressive symptoms, non-suicidal self-injury, and tranquilizer use; sensation seeking and drug use were also associated with increased suicidal behaviour among Ukrainian youth. A positive perception of the future and maternal management were associated with lower risk in both countries, while school safety was a significant protective factor in Ukraine and self-confidence was a significant protective factor in Poland.
What to keep in mind
The summary does not describe limitations beyond the study's focus on adolescents aged 14 to 15 in Western Ukraine and Warsaw. The results are based on self-report questionnaires from one time period, so the abstract does not provide information about long-term change or causation.
Key points
- Suicidal thoughts, suicide planning, and suicide attempts were reported more often in Warsaw than in the two Ukrainian cities.
- Girls had higher levels of suicidal behaviour than boys in both countries.
- Traumatic experiences, victimization, depressive symptoms, non-suicidal self-injury, and tranquilizer use were linked to higher suicidal behaviour in both countries.
- A positive view of the future and maternal management were linked to lower suicidal behaviour in both countries.
- School safety was protective in Ukraine, while self-confidence was protective in Poland.
Disclosure
- Research title:
- Resilience factors linked to adolescent suicidal behaviour in Poland and Ukraine
- Authors:
- Krzysztof Ostaszewski, Agnieszka Bielawska, Anna Borucka, Jakub Greń, Inna Haletska, Halyna Herasym, Larysa Klymanska, Milena Markiewicz, Iryna Mirchuk, Agnieszka Pisarska, Віктор Савка, Оксана Зелена, Maryna Klimanska
- Institutions:
- Drohobych Ivan Franko State Pedagogical University, Drohobych Ivan Franko State Pedagogical University, Institute of Psychiatry and Neurology, Institute of Psychiatry and Neurology, Institute of Psychiatry and Neurology, Institute of Psychiatry and Neurology, Institute of Psychiatry and Neurology, Institute of Psychiatry and Neurology, Lviv Polytechnic National University, Lviv Polytechnic National University, Lviv Polytechnic National University, Lviv University, Lviv University, WSB Merito University in Gdańsk
- Publication date:
- 2026-06-28
- OpenAlex record:
- View
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