Suicides Among Youth and Social Environment: Is There Evidence for Correlation, or Merely Ecological Fallacy?
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| Title: | Suicides Among Youth and Social Environment: Is There Evidence for Correlation, or Merely Ecological Fallacy? |
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| Authors: | Ferguson, Christopher J.1 CJFerguson1111@aol.com |
| Source: | Child & Youth Care Forum. Oct2025, Vol. 54 Issue 5, p1139-1156. 18p. |
| Subject Terms: | *Data analysis, *Families, Compulsive behavior, Income, Time series analysis, Descriptive statistics, Social context, Suicide, Statistics, Practical politics, Data analysis software |
| Geographic Terms: | United States |
| Abstract: | Background: The issue of teen suicide has attracted considerable attention in recent years. Nonetheless, little consensus has emerged regarding what societal environmental variables are related to it. Objectives: This study sought to examine long-term correlations between teen suicide and youth technology use, progressive trends in K12 education (increasing emphasis on oppression and conflict), income inequality, fatherlessness, political partisanship and adult suicide. Methods: The current analysis conducted time series designs to test long-term correlations in youth suicide and hypothesized predictors. Year-to-year data sources were included from the CDC (suicide, screen use trends), World Bank (income inequality), PsychINFO/ERIC (education trends), Annie C. Casey Foundation (fatherlessness), and Pew Research Center (political partisanship). Data was included for 2001–2020. Results: Increases in each of the other social environmental issues were associated with increases in suicide among both teen girls and boys at a lag of multiple years. The only exception was for changes in technology use, wherein the introduction of social media appeared to be slightly protective, though at an effect size much lower than the other variables. Conclusions: Teen suicide is one facet of a larger, complicated set of social issues influencing most generations in the United States, adults and youth alike. Considering teen suicide in isolation is unlikely to result in effective policy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
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| Database: | Education Research Complete |
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| Abstract: | Background: The issue of teen suicide has attracted considerable attention in recent years. Nonetheless, little consensus has emerged regarding what societal environmental variables are related to it. Objectives: This study sought to examine long-term correlations between teen suicide and youth technology use, progressive trends in K12 education (increasing emphasis on oppression and conflict), income inequality, fatherlessness, political partisanship and adult suicide. Methods: The current analysis conducted time series designs to test long-term correlations in youth suicide and hypothesized predictors. Year-to-year data sources were included from the CDC (suicide, screen use trends), World Bank (income inequality), PsychINFO/ERIC (education trends), Annie C. Casey Foundation (fatherlessness), and Pew Research Center (political partisanship). Data was included for 2001–2020. Results: Increases in each of the other social environmental issues were associated with increases in suicide among both teen girls and boys at a lag of multiple years. The only exception was for changes in technology use, wherein the introduction of social media appeared to be slightly protective, though at an effect size much lower than the other variables. Conclusions: Teen suicide is one facet of a larger, complicated set of social issues influencing most generations in the United States, adults and youth alike. Considering teen suicide in isolation is unlikely to result in effective policy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
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| ISSN: | 10531890 |
| DOI: | 10.1007/s10566-025-09853-9 |
