Roles of protective factors and risk factors in suicidal ideation among adolescents in Taiwan.

Depressive symptoms were a risk factor of suicidal ideation. Self-esteem can moderate the negative effect of depressive symptoms on suicidal ideation. Problem-focused coping can moderate the negative effects of emotion-focused coping on suicidal ideation. Public health nurses could cooperate with school nurses to periodically screen depressive symptoms and provide early interventions. Teaching parents and teachers methods for improving self-esteem of adolescents and enhancing adolescents to apply problem-focused coping strategies could be useful to reduce suicidal ideation of adolescents.