Citation

Konick LC, Gutierrez PM. Suicide Life Threat. Behav. 2005; 35(2): 181-192.

Affiliation

Northern Illinois University, IL, USA.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2005, American Association of Suicidology, Publisher John Wiley and Sons)

DOI

10.1521/suli.35.2.181.62875

PMID

15843335

Abstract

This study examined several risk factors-negative life events (NLE), hopelessness, and depressive symptoms-believed to commonly precipitate suicide ideation in college students. A total of 345 undergraduates participated in the study. Students completed four self-report questionnaires. Hierarchical regression analyses were used to construct a risk model of suicide ideation. This study confirmed depressive symptoms and hopelessness as predictors of suicide ideation in college students; however, NLE impacted suicidal thoughts through hopelessness and depressive symptoms. Interestingly, depressive symptoms exerted a stronger influence on suicide ideation than hopelessness. Hopelessness served as a partial mediator in the relationship between NLE and depressive symptoms; however, depressive symptoms fully mediated the relationship between NLE and hopelessness. Clinical implications for understanding suicide risk in college students are discussed.