Suicidal behavior assessment in adolescents: Validation of the SENTIA-Brief scale

Abstract

Introduction. Suicide is a social-health problem in the youth population worldwide; however, there are no measuring instruments specifically designed for use in Spanish adolescents. The main goal of this work was to analyze the psychometric properties of a new measuring instrument, called SENTIA-Brief, for suicidal behavior assessment in Spanish adolescents.

Method. A total of 1,790 students selected by sampling stratified by conglomerates participated in the survey. The average age was 15.70 years (SD = 1.26), 53.7% being girls. Different instruments to assess suicidal behavior and socio-emotional and behavioral adjustment were used.

Results. Between 4% and 15% of adolescents scored positively at least on one item of the SENTIA-Brief scale. Women showed significantly higher scores than men in the total score. An essentially one-dimensional structure was found. No items showed differential functioning by gender. The reliability was adequate (Omega = .97). SENTIA-Brief scores were positively associated with suicidal ideation, symptoms of depression, mental health problems, and psychotic-like experiences.

Conclusions. SENTIA-Brief seems to be a simple and brief instrument with adequate psychometric properties that allows the assessment of suicidal behavior in young Spaniards. In addition, SENTIA-Brief can be used as a screening tool, both in clinical and educational settings, to detect individuals at risk for suicidal behavior in order to prevent this problem and its negative consequences associated.