Attachment insecurity, adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), and suicidality in French residential-care adolescents: a gender-differentiated study.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Suicidality is alarmingly prevalent among adolescents placed in residential child welfare facilities, often as a consequence of early adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and disrupted attachment relationships. Although these vulnerabilities are well established, the gender-specific mechanisms underlying suicidality in institutionalized youth remain poorly understood. Clarifying how trauma exposure and attachment insecurity interact with mental health symptoms is critical to inform targeted prevention.

Methods

In a cross-sectional study, 98 adolescents aged 12-17 years (54 girls, 44 boys; M = 14.34, SD = 2.08) living in French residential care completed validated self-report instruments assessing ACEs, attachment security, depressive and anxiety symptoms, and suic

SUBMITTER: Bronsard G 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12821293 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature