We examined whether adolescents’ loneliness and social withdrawal mediated the association between maternal depressive symptoms and adolescent suicidality. Secondary analyses on the Québec Longitudinal Study of Child Development data were conducted (n = 1,623). Each mother completed the Centre for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (at child ages 5 months, 1.5, 3.5, 5, and 7 years). Adolescent's social withdrawal (adolescent, father, and teacher reported at 10, 12, and 13 years) and loneliness (adolescent reported at 10, 12, and 13 years), were assessed using items from the Social Behavior Questionnaire and the Loneliness and Social Satisfaction Questionnaire, respectively. Adolescents completed self-reports to assess suicidal thoughts and attempts at 13, 15, 17, and 20 years. Children of mothers with higher levels of maternal depressive symptoms had an increased risk for suicidality (OR = 1.15, 95% CI: 1.03–1.28). Loneliness explained 16% of the total effect of maternal depressive symptoms on adolescent suicidality (indirect effect OR = 1.02, 95% CI: 1.00–1.04). There was no indirect effect of maternal depressive symptoms on adolescent suicidal outcomes via social withdrawal (indirect effect OR = 1.00, 95% CI: 0.99–1.02). Interventions that target loneliness may be beneficial for decreasing the risk for suicidality among adolescents of mothers with depressive symptoms.

我们检查了青少年的孤独感和社交退缩是否介导了母亲抑郁症状与青少年自杀之间的关联。对魁北克儿童发展数据纵向研究进行了二次分析（n= 1,623)。每位母亲都完成了流行病学研究中心抑郁量表（儿童年龄分别为 5 个月、1.5、3.5、5 和 7 岁）。青少年的社交退缩（青少年、父亲和老师在 10、12 和 13 岁时报告）和孤独感（青少年在 10、12 和 13 岁时报告）使用社会行为问卷和孤独感和社会满意度中的项目进行评估问卷，分别。青少年在 13、15、17 和 20 岁时完成了自我报告，以评估自杀念头和尝试。母亲抑郁症状水平较高的母亲的孩子自杀风险增加（OR = 1.15，95% CI：1.03-1.28）。孤独解释了母亲抑郁症状对青少年自杀的总影响的 16%（间接影响或= 1.02, 95% CI: 1.00–1.04)。母亲抑郁症状通过社交退缩对青少年自杀结局没有间接影响（间接影响OR = 1.00，95% CI：0.99-1.02）。针对孤独感的干预措施可能有助于降低患有抑郁症状的母亲的青少年自杀风险。