Objective: To examine associations of age, gender, and psychosocial factors
during adolescence with risk of suicide attempt between ages 19 and 23 yea
rs. Method: Initial assessments were conducted with 1,709 adolescents (aged
14-18) in western Oregon between 1987 and 1989. One year later, 1,507 part
icipants returned for a second assessment. A subset of participants (n = 94
1; 57.2% women) had a third diagnostic assessment after turning 24 (between
1993 and 1999). Information on suicidal behavior, psychosocial risk factor
s, and lifetime DSM-III-R psychiatric diagnosis was collected at each asses
sment. Results: The suicide attempt hazard rate for female adolescents was
significantly higher than for male adolescents (Wilcoxon chi (2)(1)[n = 941
] = 12.69, p <.001). By age 19, the attempt hazard rate for female adolesce
nts dropped to a level comparable with that of male adolescents. Disappeara
nce of the gender difference for suicide attempts by young adulthood was no
t paralleled by a decrease in the gender difference for major depression. A
dolescent suicidal behavior predicted suicide attempt during young adulthoo
d for female, but not male, participants. Adolescent psychosocial risk fact
ors for suicide attempt during young adulthood were identified separately f
or girls and boys. Conclusions: Unlike depression, the elevated incidence r
ate of suicide attempts by adolescent girls is not maintained into young ad
ulthood. Screening and prevention implications are discussed.