Review Article

Parenting Style and Suicidal Behavior: A Focused Review

Table 1

Summary of the articles.

SNStudyCountryInstrumentSample sizeStudy designStudy populationData collection techniqueSummary of the article

1Allison et al. [13]AustraliaIQR, Adolescent Suicide Questionnaire307Cross-sectional13 to 17 yearsSRMPaternal criticism, less caring & overprotective nature of parents were associated with high level of suicidal ideation, plans, threats, and attempts
2Banstola et al. [8]Nepal575Cross-sectional13 to 19 years and their parentsSRMAuthoritarian parenting style was identified as a risk factor for suicidal behavior among children
3Bifulco et al. [30]UKChildhood Experience of Care and Abuse (CECA)160Cross sectionalHigh risk young people (16-30 years)InterviewParental neglect, lack of adequate supervision, and single mother upbringing were identified as the predictors of suicidal behavior
4Choi et al. [31]KoreaPAQ, Suicidality sub scale of the Korean Version of the Composite International Diagnostic Interview (K-CIDI version 2.1)1071Cross-sectionalAdolescentsSRMSuicidal thoughts, plans and attempts were significantly high in the authoritarian parenting group compared to democratic and permissive groups
5Coelho et al. [32]BrazilPBI828Cross-sectionalPregnant teenagersInterviewMaternal affection less control and paternal neglectful parenting were identified as a predictor of suicidal behavior in pregnant teenagers
6Donath et al. [33]Germany44,610Cross-sectional9th grade studentsSurveyRejecting-neglecting parenting was identified as significant predictors for suicidal attempts, whereas authoritative parenting, parental warmth were found to be protective
7Ehnvall et al. [34]AustraliaMeasure of Parental Style (MOPS)343RetrospectiveMood disorder patientsSRMFemale depressed patients with rejected or neglected parenting by were found to have an increased risk of lifetime suicide attempt
8Gau et al. [35]TaiwanChinese Version of the PBI2919Cross-sectionalFirst year college studentsSRMLow affection, overprotection and authoritarian parenting were associated with increased suicidal behavior
9Greening et al. [21]USAPAQ-Revised (PAQ-R), Risk for Suicide Questionnaire (RSQ)172Cross-sectional6 to 12 yearsParent interviews, the children SRMAuthoritarian parenting was identified as resilient factor for suicidal behavior, and flexible parenting was identified as a predictor of suicidal ideation
10Gui et al. [36]ChinaShort Egan Minnen Barndoms Uppfostran Chinese Version (S-EMBU-C) for parenting style2598Cross-sectionalMedical undergraduate studentsSurveyVariations in parenting style between father and mother in the domains of emotional warmth, nurture rejects and over-protectiveness were associated with lifetime suicidal ideation
11Heider et al. [37]Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, SpainPBI- Short form, World Mental Health Composite International Diagnostic Interview7740Cross-sectionalAdultsInterviewInadequate maternal care was significantly associated with higher incidence of suicidal ideation and attempts
12Huang et al. [38]Taiwan5328Cross-sectional10 to 13 yearsSurveyAuthoritative and authoritarian parenting styles among male students and authoritarian parenting style among female students was associated with a higher level of suicidal ideation
13Kim [26]48 low and middle income countries142,716Cross-sectionalStudents of 13 to 17 yearsSurveyCurvilinear relationship between parental involvement and suicidal behavior
14King et al. [39]USA17,399Cross-sectional12 to 17 yearsSurveyLack of authoritative behaviors was associated with increased risk for suicidal ideation, plans and attempts
15Lai et al. [40]Hong KongPBI, PAQ, SSI, Family Climate Questionnaire120Cross-sectionalSecondary school students (15 to 19 years)SRMAuthoritarian parenting style, lack of parental care, maternal over control, low paternal warmth, and negative child-rearing practices were significantly associated with a higher suicidal ideation
16Liu et al. [41]ChinaCBCL, Family Environment Scale Chinese Version (FES-CV)1920Cross-sectional6 to 16 yearsSRMPhysical punishment from the parents was significantly associated with an increased risk of suicidality
17Lo et al. [42]Hong KongPerception of Parenting Style and Practices, SSI, Warmth and Acceptance Scale (WAS), Gratitude Questionnaire (GQ-6)447Cross-sectional9 to 12 yearsSRMDominating parenting style was associated with higher incidence of suicidal ideation, whereas autonomy-granting and warmth/acceptance parenting style was found to be protective
18Madadin et al. [43]Saudi ArabiaGeneral Health Questionnaire (GHQ-28)256Cross-sectionalMedical students aged 18 to 25 yearsOnline SRMParental neglect was found to be significantly associated with increased incidence of suicidal ideation
19Martin & Waite [44]AustraliaPBI, Youth Self Report (YSR)681Cross-sectionalHigh school studentsSRM andLower level of parental care was significantly associated with higher level of suicidal ideation
20Miller et al. [45]USA674Longitudinal follow-up12-18 yearsInterviewThe study revealed an indirect association between childhood maltreatment and suicidal ideation mediated by depression during adolescence
21Mitrou et al. [46]AustraliaAchenbach’s CBCL2736Longitudinal follow-up4-16 years Children and their carersSurveyThe study revealed inconsistent parenting style as risk factor while encouraging parenting as protective for self-harm
22Nunes & Mota [47]PortugalParenting Styles & Dimensions Questionnaire, Short version, Father/Mother Attachment Questionnaire, Suicidal Ideation Questionnaire604Cross-sectional15 to 18 yearsSRMAuthoritarian and permissive parenting style was significantly correlated with suicidal ideation, whereas authoritative style was negatively correlated with suicidal ideation
23Osama et al. [48]Pakistan331Cross-sectionalUndergraduate medical studentsSurveyParental neglect and demanding parenting was found to be significantly associated with increased incidence of suicidal ideation
24Paul & Ortin [49]USACBCL, Parent-Child Conflict Tactics Scale2958Longitudinal follow-upFamilies from the Fragile Families and Child Wellbeing Study, who participated in interviews at child’s ages of 3 and/or 5, and 9Cohort StudyParental neglect in preschool years was significantly associated with increased incidence of suicidal ideation and self-harm in middle childhood
25Pawłowska et al. [50]Poland5685Cross-sectional16 to 19 yearsSRMAbuse from family members was associated with significantly higher incidence of self-harm behavior in adolescents
26Sharaf et al. [51]EgyptPBI, SIS150Cross-sectional13 to 21 years of age and hospitalized for non-fatal attemptInterviewSuicidal intent was found to be significantly higher among adolescents who experienced parental neglect and affection less control during their childhood
27Silove et al. [52]AustraliaPBI, Youth Self Report (YSR)43 case; 42 controlCase-control studyHospitalized patients after a non-fatal attemptSRMPaternal overprotection was associated with self-harm behavior
28Singh et al. [53]IndiaPBI, SSI, Beck’s Hopelessness Scale, and Early Trauma Inventory Self Report436Cross-sectionalUndergraduate students of 18 to 25 yearsInterviewSuicidal ideation was significantly higher in affection less parental control
29Smith & Moore [54]JamaicaMassachusetts Youth Screening Instrument563Cross-sectional11 to 19 yearsSRMAuthoritarian parenting style was found to be significantly associated with greater risk of suicidal ideation
30Sun et al. [55]China2198Cross-sectionalMedical undergraduate studentsSRMMother’s communication was associated with lifetime suicidal ideation and plan but associated with suicidal attempt. The study does not reveal any direction of the association
31Zaborskis et al. [56]LithuaniaHealth Behavior in School-aged Children (HBSC)3572Cross-sectional13 to 15 yearsSRMAuthoritarian-repressive paternal parenting style, permissive-neglectful maternal parenting style and low parental emotional support was found to be significantly associated with suicidal behavior
32Zinchuk et al. [57]RussiaSelf-Injurious Thoughts and Behavior Interview (SITBI)361Retrospective cohortHospitalized patients in psychiatryInterviewDissatisfaction with perceived parenting style (with respect to their upbringing, selecting from balanced, overprotective, uninvolved and inconsistent types) was found to be significantly associated with suicidal ideation