Citation

Rabon JK, Sirois FM, Hirsch JK. J. Am. Coll. Health 2018; 66(2): 114-122.

Affiliation

a Department of Psychology , East Tennessee State University.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2018, Informa - Taylor and Francis Group)

DOI

10.1080/07448481.2017.1382498

PMID

28937937

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: College students may be at heightened risk for suicide and suicidal behavior due to maladaptive cognitive-emotional factors and failure to practice basic health behaviors. However, self-compassion and wellness behaviors may protect against risk. The relation between self-compassion and suicidal behavior and the contributing roles of depressive symptoms and wellness behaviors was examined. PARTICIPANTS: Participants were 365 undergraduate students. Data was collected in April 2015.

METHODS: A cross-sectional, survey design was employed. Participants completed measures assessing self-compassion, depressive symptoms, wellness behaviors, and suicidal behavior. Serial mediation analyses were conducted covarying age, sex, and ethnicity.

RESULTS: Self-compassion was inversely related to suicidal behavior, and this relationship was serially mediated by depressive symptoms and wellness behaviors.

CONCLUSIONS: Self-compassion may protect against suicidal behavior, in part, due to reduced depressive symptoms and heightened engagement in wellness behaviors. Individual and campus-wide strategies promoting self-compassion and wellness behaviors may reduce suicide risk on college campuses.

Language: en

Keywords

Depression; Self-compassion; Suicidal Behavior; Suicide; Wellness Behaviors