Parenting practices following psychiatric hospitalization of suicidal adolescents

The National Institute of Mental Health awarded Rhode Island Hospital $756,356 on August 1, 2026, under the Mental Health Research Grants program (CFDA 93.242) to conduct a prospective longitudinal study of parenting practices following psychiatric hospitalization of suicidal adolescents.

The study will identify modifiable parenting practices and their impact on self-injurious thoughts and behaviors (SITB) during the first month post-discharge, a period when readmission risk peaks. Rhode Island Hospital will recruit 250 adolescents ages 12–17 and their parents from a psychiatric inpatient unit and employ a multi-method design combining self-report measures, mobile diaries, behavioral assessments, and fundamental frequency analysis of parent-adolescent interactions to capture day-to-day variations in both general parenting practices (warmth, communication, monitoring) and safety-specific practices (access to means, safety plan review). Participants will complete baseline assessments and engagement tasks, then track fluctuations in parenting and adolescent mood through daily mobile diaries over four weeks, with follow-up assessments at 1, 3, and 6 months post-discharge. The research will examine how transactional dynamics between parents and adolescents influence long-term outcomes.

Performance takes place in Providence, Rhode Island. The period of performance runs from August 1, 2026, through April 30, 2031. This is a Project Grant, an assistance type supporting specified research projects.

Abstract

The rising incidence of youth hospitalized for self-injurious thoughts and behaviors (SITB) highlights the need to better understand underlying modifiable factors that could lead to targeted interventions during critical post-hospitalization periods. Nearly half of adolescents discharged after psychiatric hospitalization are readmitted, with the highest suicide risk occurring in the month following discharge. While prior research emphasizes the role of parenting as a protective factor, the specific, proximal parenting practices most effective during this period remain poorly understood. This study aims to address this GAP by identifying modifiable parenting practices and their impact on SITB in the first month following discharge. Using a multi-method, prospective longitudinal design, we will investigate both general (e.g., warmth, communication, monitoring) and safety-specific (e.g., access to means, safety plan review) parenting practices. We will leverage real-time data through mobile diaries and behavioral assessments, and assess emotion regulation through fundamental frequency analysis during parent-adolescent interaction tasks. This innovative approach will allow US to capture day-to-day variations in parenting and their influence on adolescent SITB. The study will recruit 250 adolescents (ages 12-17) and their parents from a psychiatric inpatient unit. Participants will complete self-report measures at baseline and engage in interaction tasks. Over four weeks, daily mobile diaries will track fluctuations in parenting and adolescent mood, while follow-up assessments will be conducted at 1-, 3-, and 6-months post-discharge. The study will explore how general and safety-specific parenting practices relate to SITB, and how transactional dynamics between parents and adolescents influence long-term outcomes. This research will provide insights into how modifiable parenting practices can mitigate suicide risk in adolescents following psychiatric hospitalization, directly contributing to efforts to reduce suicide attempts in adolescents. The findings will inform the development of personalized interventions to support families during this vulnerable period, ultimately advancing public health objectives and improving clinical practices.