Mediational role of hope in the relationship between family violence and suicide risk in Peruvian schoolchildren

Abstract

The aim of this study was to analyze the connection between family violence and suicide risk in adolescents with indicators of hope. A sample of 243 participants was selected who met the inclusion criteria and had indicators of hope, aged 12 to 17 years (M=14,4, SD=1,35), 55,6 % female. Three scales validated in the Peruvian context were used: the Family Violence Scale (FVS), the Plutchik Suicide Risk Scale and the Herth Hope Scale. The results showed that hope played a partial and complementary mediational role, and the correlation revealed a positive and significant relationship (Rho=0,559, p<0,001) between the increase in violence and the increase in suicidal risk. This association was evident in physical violence (Rho=0,417, p<0,001), psychological violence (R=0,420, p<0,001) and sexual violence (Rho=0,494, p<0,001). Descriptive data indicate that a low level of physical violence (38,7 %), a high level of psychological violence (35,4 %) and a low level of sexual violence (61,7 %) prevailed. In addition, it was observed that all participants presented low levels of suicidal risk. It is concluded that family violence increases suicidal risk in adolescents, highlighting the importance of urgently addressing this problem.