Research on risk factor for suicidal behaviors has been broadly conducted to enhance knowledge of suicide prevention. However, there are still challenges for risk factor research. Four major research gaps have been identified: (1) uncertain effectiveness of the population approach versus the high-risk approach for suicide prevention; (2) lack of a valid and convenient Chinese-version screening tool for the severity of suicidal ideation among adolescents; (3) demand for testing the prospective associations of risk factors with suicidal ideation using a longitudinal designed population-based sample; and (4) necessity of pathway analysis to explore and confirm how risk factors interact with each other and lead to suicidality. This thesis aims to address these gaps through a combination of five studies. Study 1 introduces an illness and death model to suicide prevention research. Elasticity and sensitivity analyses were performed. The findings revealed that the control of suicide incidence among the healthy population is the most effective prevention strategy whereas treatment of mental illness appears to be the least effective approach to suicide prevention. Study 2 validates the psychometric properties of the Chinese versions of Reynolds’s Suicidal Ideation Questionnaire (SIQ) and Suicidal Ideation Questionnaire Junior (SIQ-JR, a short version of the SIQ) in a sample of Hong Kong adolescents. A short, four-item version of the SIQ-JR has been suggested as an alternative to the SIQ and the SIQ-JR. Study 3 identifies the history of psychiatric treatment, depression, anxiety, hopelessness, unstable marital status, poor economic circumstance, and a recent death of a first-degree relative as significant risk factors for the incidence of suicidal ideation. The associations of change in risk factors with the development of suicidal ideation have been tested. There are gender and age differences in the patterns of such associations. Study 4 focuses on psychological factors associated with the first-ever incidence of suicidal ideation. Psychological factors have been detected generally to differ in their associations with the incidence and persistence of suicidality. The idea that depression partially mediates the effect of average life distress on the persistence of suicidal ideation has clinical value. Study 5 introduces and tests a stressor and illness model as a theoretical framework reference for future risk factor research. Risk factors are classified into stressor, illness, and pattern factors. Both the simple and complex models are tested. Evidence supported the proposed mediating role of mental disorders between negative life events and severity of suicidal ideation. A gender-specific pattern of associations between stressors, illness, and severity of suicidal ideation has also been detected. This thesis has made substantial theoretical, psychometric, and empirical contributions to the existing knowledge of suicide research. / published_or_final_version / Social Work and Social Administration / Doctoral / Doctor of Philosophy

No description available.

No description available.

No description available.

Cartas al editor

Suicidal behaviour is a serious public health problem throughout the world. International as well as South African data suggests that young adults in their twenties are at high risk for suicidal behaviours. The identification of depression as a risk factor for suicidal behaviour is well established and accumulating empirical evidence indicates that certain personality traits may increase individual vulnerability to suicidality. However few studies have controlled for the influence of depression on the relationship between personality traits and suicidal behaviour. The central aim of this study was to establish whether a relationship exists between personality and suicidal ideation, which includes Negative Ideation (suicide ideation) and Positive Ideation (protective factor against suicidal behaviour) in a sample of 83 university students aged 22 to 29 years. The impact of depression on the relationship between personality traits and suicide ideation was considered as a potential confounder and controlled for in the assessment of the relationship. The prevalence rate of suicide ideation was also assessed. Data from the participants was collected through the administration of three self-report inventories: the Positive and Negative Suicide Ideation Inventory, (PANSI), the NEO-PI-R personality inventory and the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI). The prevalence rate of suicide ideation of the sample was determined by utilizing the frequencies calculated with regard to the PANSI Negative Ideation (suicide ideation) and Positive Ideation (protective factor against suicidal behaviour) scales respectively. Findings indicated that about 1 in 6 young adults had recently thought about killing themselves. Spearman’s correlations were employed to investigate the relationship between suicide ideation and personality traits, depression and suicide ideation, and depression and personality, respectively. In addition, Spearman’s partial correlation was employed in order to factor out the influence of depression on the relationship between personality and suicide ideation. Analysis of the correlations revealed the following. A weak to moderate positive significant correlation between Negative Ideation (suicide ideation) and Neuroticism (r = 0.318, p = 0.003), and a weak to moderate inverse significant correlation between Negative Ideation and Extraversion (r = -0311, p = 0.004), and Conscientiousness (r = -0.384, p = 0.000), respectively. A weak to moderate inverse significant correlation between Positive Ideation (protective factor against suicidal behaviour) and Neuroticism (r = -0.347, p = 0.001), a moderate positive correlation between Positive Ideation and Extraversion (r = 0.504, p <.000), and a weak to iii moderate positive correlation between Positive Ideation and Conscientiousness (r = 0.382, p = 0.000) were found. BDI scores were significantly correlated with higher Negative Ideation scores (r = 0.611, p <. 000) and inversely related to Positive Ideation scores (r = -0.458, p <.000). This indicates a moderate positive association between depressed mood and suicide ideation and a moderate inverse association between depressed mood and Positive Ideation. BDI scores also correlated significantly with Neuroticism (r = 0.574, p <. 000), Extraversion (r = -0.397, p = 0.000) and Conscientiousness (r = -0.474, p <.000). This indicates a moderate positive association between depressed mood and Neuroticism, and a weak to moderate inverse association between depressed mood and Extraversion and Conscientiousness, respectively. However, when the impact of depression was statistically removed from the relationship between personality and suicide ideation, Negative Ideation (suicide ideation) was no longer significantly correlated with any of the NEO-PI-R domains. Positive Ideation was only significantly correlated with Extraversion when the influence of depressed mood was controlled (r = 0.395, p = 0.000). The finding on the prevalence rate of suicide ideation among young adults is of relevance to the South African context as data in this regard is not well documented. Findings on the association between suicide ideation and Neuroticism, Extraversion and Conscientiousness, respectively, suggest that selected personality traits may increase individual vulnerability to suicidality and demonstrates the significance of understanding the role of personality in suicidal behaviour. In addition, the present study has added to this area of research by considering the influence of depression on the relationship between suicide ideation and personality. The non-significant association between personality traits and suicide ideation when the influence of depression was factored out suggests that personality interacts with depression in increasing vulnerability to suicidality. The present study is also distinguished by considering personality as possibly being a protective factor against engaging in suicidal behaviour. Findings suggest that selected personality traits may make independent contributions in protecting against suicide ideation. In order to further investigate the utility of personality traits as protective factors against suicidal behaviours or as markers of risk for suicidal behaviours and targets of intervention, future multivariate research is imperative.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Hong Kong, 2005. / Also available in print.

Increase in suicide rates of African American males since the 1960s has prompted a growing interest among researchers. Although research has increased in this area, suicide remains an issue that is explored far less often among African American males compared to other groups. Moreover, studies exploring risk factors associated with suicide in this group have led to inconclusive results. The current meta-analysis was conducted to synthesize the results of existing literature and to identify risk factors associated with suicide among African American males under the age of 30. Of 25 research articles published between 1970 and 2007 that met inclusion criteria, 48 units of analysis were obtained including 37,927 total subjects. The current analysis identified 57 risk factors that were categorized into 16 constructs: substance use, religion, economic, location, education, family, internalizing, externalizing, ethnic variables, stressor/ conflict, support, medical/somatic, psychological disorder, perception, age, and gender. Risk factors for suicidal behavior were coded and effect sizes between groups were computed. Age yielded the largest magnitude of effect such that suicidal groups of African American males were more likely to be younger than groups of non-suicidal comparisons. Effect sizes of risk factors were also analyzed within four additional domains (attempters, ideators, ideators & attempters, and completrs). Results indicate that age and perception had the largest effects for attempts, while psychological disorders had the least effect. Effects for ideators were largest for substance use and medical problems, while religion was smallest. In a group of ideators and attempters, age was again found to have the largest effect while medical problems had the least. Lastly, factors associated with perception and psychological disorder had the greatest effect for completers while religion had the least effect. Effects of several factors such as religion, location, family, and ethnic variables did not change across suicidal subgroups suggesting that although their effects were not largest, they remained constant across behaviors.

Thèse--Lettres--Paris V, 1975.

American Indian and Alaska Native youth have the highest rate of suicide in the nation. The following report outlines the factors that contribute to these rates. These factors include barriers to mental health care and the unique risk factors. Barriers to mental health care that American Indians and Alaska Natives face include isolation of tribes, cultural values, limitations of Indian Health Services, and a lack of qualified providers. Unique risk factors faced by these groups include isolation, oppression, tribal characteristics, and high rates of alcohol abuse. Two prominent theories in suicide research are examined to help explain the epidemic of American Indian and Alaska Native youth suicide. These theories include the Interpersonal Theory of Suicide as well as Strain Theory of Suicide. A close look at current interventions is also provided. Limitations of these interventions are discussed. Implications for community and college counselors are given, which include being sensitive to the unique needs of these clients and designing interventions targeted specifically at these groups. Suggestions for future research are also included. / text