Adverse Childhood Experiences and Familial Factors in Adolescent Suicidality

Purpose: Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are risk factors for adolescent suicidal ideation (SI), but the influence of immediate family factors on this association remains understudied. This study examines how family functioning (FF) and perceived parental criticism (PPC) moderate the relationship between ACEs and SI. Methods: 46 community-based adolescents between the ages of 15 and 19 (Mage = 17.43 years, 69.57% female) participated in a study examining cognitive risk factors for SI. Several self-report measures were administered: the Suicidal Ideation Questionnaire to assess SI severity, the Adverse Childhood Experiences Questionnaire to measure ACEs, the McMaster Family Assessment Device – General Functioning Scale to evaluate FF, and the Perceived Criticism Measure to determine PPC. Results: Neither the presence (ß = .26, p = .09) nor the count of ACEs (ß = .24, p = .12) significantly predicted SI severity. SI severity was significantly associated with specific ACEs such as emotional abuse, emotional neglect, and mental illness or suicide attempts in the household (ß = .39-.65, p = .00-.04), but not with others (ß = -.21-.40, p = .08-.99). Furthermore, FF (ß = .28, p < .01) and PPC (ß = .19, p =.04) independently moderated the association between ACEs and SI severity, while their combined interaction was not significant (ß = -.03, p = .74). Conclusion: Specific ACEs predicted SI severity. Moreover, lower FF and higher PPC independently amplified the impact of ACEs on SI severity in adolescents, highlighting the need for interventions that enhance FF and address PPC to mitigate adolescent suicide risk.