RAISR4D Suicide

A cluster analysis of psychosocial risk and hidden distress in adolescent students

21/05/2026

AI Summary

Cluster analysis identified four distinct psychosocial profiles combining loneliness, suicidal ideation, social self-esteem, bullying, emotional regulation and problematic internet use.
One profile shows high suicidal ideation despite average social adjustment, indicating invisible emotional distress not detected by surface social functioning.
Findings call for multidimensional detection and tailored interventions that transcend visible symptoms to prevent adolescent mental health risks.

Sci Rep. 2026 May 20. doi: 10.1038/s41598-026-53567-4. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Adolescent mental health problems and suicidal vulnerability have become major public health concerns, requiring more nuanced approaches to the identification of psychosocial risk. This study explores the diversity of adolescent distress from a psychosocial perspective, through a cluster analysis based on indicators of emotional well-being, social ties and mental health. Using data from 1,975 adolescents (aged 11-18), four profiles were identified that combine variables such as loneliness, suicidal ideation, social self-esteem, bullying, emotional regulation, and problematic internet use. The results reveal a particularly worrying profile, characterised by high levels of suicidal ideation despite average levels of social adjustment, suggesting the existence of invisible emotional distress. Another profile stands out for its psychosocial resilience, while the remaining two express distress through conflict or relational and emotional vulnerability. These findings underscore the need for multidimensional detection strategies and differentiated interventions that transcend visible symptoms to prevent mental health risks in adolescence.

PMID:42162202 | DOI:10.1038/s41598-026-53567-4

Document this CPD