Premium
A Prospective Investigation of Suicidal Ideation in College Students: A Test of a Model
Author(s) -
Bonner Ronald L.,
Rich Alexander R.
Publication year - 1988
Publication title -
suicide and life‐threatening behavior
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.544
H-Index - 90
eISSN - 1943-278X
pISSN - 0363-0234
DOI - 10.1111/j.1943-278x.1988.tb00160.x
Subject(s) - psychology , suicidal ideation , alienation , vulnerability (computing) , clinical psychology , test (biology) , developmental psychology , poison control , suicide prevention , medicine , computer security , medical emergency , paleontology , political science , computer science , law , biology
In order to test the predictive validity of a stress‐vulnerability model of suicide ideation and behavior, a longitudinal study was conducted with college undergraduates. Based on previous research (Bonner & Rich, 1987; Rich & Bonner, 1987a), measures of social/emotional alienation, adaptive resources for living, and cognitive rigidity were taken at the beginning of the semester and combined to develop a vulnerability score. Then, at midterm, measures of midterm stress and cumulative negative life stress were obtained from the same subjects. It was hypothesized that the vulnerability factor would interact with midterm and negative life stress to predict suicide ideation. Instead of an interactive model, a linear, compensatory model of suicide ideation was found. The combination of alienation, deficient adaptive resources, and life stress best predicted ideation scores. Implications for research and theory are noted.