Understanding Suicidal Ideation Trajectories from Adolescence To Young Adulthood: Influencing Factors and Latent Growth Patterns

Suicidal ideation is a critical public health concern, particularly during the transition from adolescence to young adulthood. This study examined longitudinal trajectories of suicidal ideation and their psychosocial and demographic predictors. Using data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health (n = 6,490), we applied latent growth curve modeling to assess overall trends and latent class growth analysis to identify distinct subgroups. The results showed a quadratic decline in suicidal ideation over time and identified four distinct trajectory classes: (1) Stable Low Ideation; (2) Moderate Decline Ideation; (3) High Decline, Ideation; and (4) Severe Decline Ideation. Several predictors—including life satisfaction, school belonging, depression, parental relationships, sex, immigrant status, and socioeconomic status—were significantly associated with both the level and trajectory of suicidal ideation, as well as class membership. These findings underscore the importance of early, targeted interventions tailored to both shared and subgroup-specific risk factors to effectively reduce suicidal ideation across developmental stages.