Citation

Schneider SG, Taylor SE, Hammen C, Kemeny ME, Dudley J. J. Pers. Soc. Psychol. 1991; 61(5): 776-788.

Affiliation

University of California, Los Angeles.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1991, American Psychological Association)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

1753332

Abstract

Of 778 gay and bisexual men (none with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome AIDS.), 27% (n = 212) reported suicidal ideation over the previous 6 months. Covariance structure models were used to explore predictors of suicide intent among (n = 112) suicide ideators with (n = 100) and without (n = 112) human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Current AIDS-related stressors (deaths and illnesses and perceived AIDS risk) and past levels of adaptive functioning (social isolation and depression) were significantly more powerful predictors of suicide intent among HIV-positive than among HIV-negative ideators. Biological AIDS risk predicted neither suicide intent, current distress, nor perceived AIDS risk. Pathways to suicide intent appear to be psychologically, rather than biologically, mediated. Among HIV-positive ideators, AIDS-related death and illness events predicted suicide intent but not current distress symptoms. Some suicidal ideation in response to AIDS-related events may be an effort to cope rather than a manifestation of psychological distress.

Language: en