Suicidal Ideation and Problem Solving Skills of University Students of Ireland
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Date
2005
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Department of Psychology, University of Peshawar. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan
Abstract
To investigate whethersuicidal ideation is an indicator ofsuicide risk, a study was undertaken to examine the ability of suicidal ideation to distinguish population segments on the basis of their attitudes to suicidal behaviour and their own problem solving ability. Three hundred and fifty students attending University College Cork, Ireland were randomly selected and administered the questionnaire used was designed specifically for the present study and comprised four self-report measures in English language appeared in the following order. Demographic information was modified from the socio demographic section of the European Parasuicide study Interview schedule (Kerkhofet al., 1994), Fourfactorially derived Clinical Scales from the Suicide Opinion Questionnaire (Domino et al., 1996), Suicide History Questionnaire was modified from the demographic section of the Suicide Opinion Questionnaire (Domino etal., 1982), The Self-rating Problem Solving Scale (McLeavey and Daly, 1988). The mean age of the sample was 19.1 years, with a model age of 18. Age ranged from 17years to 25 years. Respondents were allocated to one of three groups on the basis of their lifetime suicidal ideation history: Non-ideators: 239 respondents (69%) who had never considered suicide in their lifetime; Ideators: 109 respondents (31%) who had considered suicide at least once; Planners: 21 Ideators who had made a plan for self-harm. Non-ideators had the highest problem solving scores and were significantly better than planners (p < 0.001) and Ideators (p < 0.001).Ideators without a plan scored higher than planners (p<0.435). Male and female respondents did not differ significantly overall, but they did exhibit distinctly different pattems in problem solving across ideation levels. Non ideators were significantly less in agreement than the Ideators and Planners (p < 0.001) with the attitude that suicidal behaviour is normal. Non-ideators were also significantly less in agreement than Ideators (p < 0.001) and Planners (p < 0.015) with the behaviourthatpeople have the right to take their own lives. There were no significant genderdifferences on anyofthe attitude scores. Test-retest correlations were significant for all scales (p < 0.01). One quarter ofthe Planners reportedthat they were more likely than not to attempt suicide while only 2% of Non-ideators and Ideators respectively expressed this estimate. Step-wise selection ofpredictor variables indicated that gender. normality and problem- solving scores were effective as gender and all five scales combined correctly classifying one-third of the Ideators and approximately half of the Planners. The findings are evaluated in terms of predicting the suicide risk.
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Citation
Deeba, F. (2005). Suicidal Ideation and Problem Solving Skills of University Students of Ireland (Doctoral dissertation, UNIVERSITY OF PESHAWAR).