# Characterizing Menstrual Cycle Influences on Social Processes, Suicidal Ideation, and Behavior in Adolescent Females with Past-Year Suicidal Ideation

> **NIH NIH F31** · UNIV OF NORTH CAROLINA CHAPEL HILL · 2020 · $37,674

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT
Recent calls from the NIMH Director and NIMH-sponsored National Action Alliance for Suicide
Prevention emphasize a critical need for the identification of biological predictors of suicidal behavior
and improved understanding of short-term fluctuations in acute risk. In response, the proposed
prospective study explores the role of the menstrual cycle in acute risk for suicidal ideation and behavior
in adolescents and the mediating role of social processes. Robust evidence demonstrates
perimenstrual (around menses) increases in psychosocial suicide risk factors (e.g. anger, felt rejection)
in susceptible women. Prior research has also documented a cross-sectional association between the
perimenstrual phase and increased suicidal behavior, but no research has examined suicidal ideation,
planning, or behavior longitudinally across the cycle. Furthermore, no research has longitudinally
examined menstrual cycle changes in suicidal ideation and behavior or suicide risk-related social
processes among adolescent girls, despite exponential increases in prevalence rates of suicide and
depression around menarche. The proposed study will examine associations between menstrual cycle
phase and suicidal 1) ideation, 2) planning, and 3) intent in adolescent females. Moreover, the proposed
work will examine daily disruptions in social processes (including perceived rejection/loneliness and
anger/interpersonal conflict) as a mediator of the association between menstrual cycle phase and
within-person change in suicidal thoughts and behavior.
 A total of 40 post-menarcheal adolescent women with current or recent suicidal ideation (but
minimal risk for suicide attempt) will complete daily assessments using an experience sampling
protocol. Daily surveys will include an assessment of suicide risk-related social processes (i.e., related
to RDoC Loss and Social Process constructs) and acute suicidal ideation and behavior. Participants
also will provide information on menstrual bleeding and complete simple at-home urine ovulation tests
to determine exact date of ovulation for precise cycle phase determination. The public health
significance of this project lies in its potential to identify novel proximal, time-varying biobehavioral
predictors of acute suicide risk in vulnerable adolescents to improve short-term prediction and
prevention of suicidal behavior and enhance behavioral and pharmacological treatments for suicidal
adolescents.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9987308
- **Project number:** 5F31MH120965-02
- **Recipient organization:** UNIV OF NORTH CAROLINA CHAPEL HILL
- **Principal Investigator:** Sarah Anne Owens
- **Activity code:** F31 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $37,674
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2019-08-01 → 2021-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9987308

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9987308, Characterizing Menstrual Cycle Influences on Social Processes, Suicidal Ideation, and Behavior in Adolescent Females with Past-Year Suicidal Ideation (5F31MH120965-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9987308. Licensed CC0.

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