Explaining gender differences in non-fatal suicidal behaviour among adolescents: a population-based study

BMC Public Health

Table 1 Sociodemographic variables, school type, familial background, and suicidal behaviour.

Characteristics	Females (n = 2,743)	Males (n = 2,769)	Total (n = 5,512)
Age, mean (SD), y	14.77 (0.72)	14.88 (0.74)	14.82 (0.73)
Nationality, %
German	89.49	87.90	88.69
Other	10.51	12.10	11.31
School type*, %
Gymnasium	38.79	32.83	35.79
Realschule	33.25	31.92	32.58
Hauptschule	25.41	32.18	28.81
Förderschule	2.55	3.07	2.81
Family composition, %
2 Parents	74.08	76.14	75.11
1 Parent	14.76	14.47	14.61
1 Parent and a partner	9.90	8.19	9.05
Other	1.27	1.20	1.23

* After four years of elementary school the German school system branches into three types of secondary schools. The so called "Hauptschule" (Secondary General School which takes five years after Primary School) prepares pupils for vocational training, whereas the "Realschule" (Intermediate Secondary School) concludes with a general certificate of secondary education after six years. Eight years of "Gymnasium" provide pupils with a general university entrance qualification

ISSN: 1471-2458