Social Support and Coping Styles in Predicting Suicide Probability among Turkish Adolescents

This study aims to investigate whether the perceived social support and coping styles are predictors of suicide probability by gender. The study was conducted with 445 high schools students, 227 girls, and 218 boys. The participants were aged between 14 and 18, and their average age was 15.90. Data were collected through the 'Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support', the 'Ways of Coping Questionnaire', and the 'Suicide Probability Scale'. Data were analyzed using MANOVA, Pearson correlation test and regression analysis. Results showed that suicide probability, perceived support from friends and significant others and helpless approach scores of the girls were significantly higher than the boys. Besides, significant relationships were found between suicide probability and perceived social support and coping styles. Regression analyses were performed for girls and boys separately. Perceived social support from family, helpless and optimistic styles were found to predict female adolescents' suicide probability significantly. As for male adolescents, in addition to perceived social support from family, helpless and optimistic styles, seeking social support was also found to be a significant predictor of suicide probability. Findings were discussed in line with the related literature, and recommendations were made.