PSYCHOLOGY NEWS - When Silence is Not Golden: How Communication Breakdowns Between Parents and Teens Can Affect Health and Well-Being
by
Dr. Lynn Margolies
OCTOBER 2014
...A new study found that teens who feel invalidated or not accepted by their families are at a significantly greater risk of suicide and/or self-harm. This finding was based on teens' subjective sense of whether they felt they could talk about their true thoughts and feelings or whether they felt that they would be ignored, dismissed, punished or made fun of - not parents' sense of whether they are supportive.
Reference:Shirley Yen, Kevin Kuehn, Katherine Tezanos, Lauren M. Weinstock, Joel Solomon, Anthony Spirito. Perceived Family and Peer Invalidation as Predictors of Adolescent Suicidal Behaviors and Self-Mutilation. Journal of Child and Adolescent Psychopharmacology, 2014; 140929071744005 DOI: 10.1089/cap.2013.0132
...A recent study demonstrated the consistent link between being suicidal and chronic exposure to external pressure to be perfect, as well as a link between perfectionism and lethal suicides. In the literature there is a strong connection between suicides and descriptions of the deceased by loved ones and friends as a perfectionist. Perfectionists are experts at concealment of suicidal feelings and perfect at presenting themselves as doing fine.
Reference: Flett, Gordon L.; Hewitt, Paul L.; Heisel, Marnin J. The destructiveness of perfectionism revisited: Implications for the assessment of suicide risk and the prevention of suicide. Review of General Psychology, Vol 18(3), Sep 2014, 156-172
Relevant Articles:
The Paradox of Pushing Kids to Succeed
Seeing Beneath The Surface With Your Teen
Protecting Teens from the Spread of Suicide
How to Be Protective When Your Son Thinks He is Gay
When Your Kids Disappoint You
Being a Wise Ally
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