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Problem Solving and Suicidal Behavior
Author(s) -
Pollock Leslie R.,
Williams J. Mark G.
Publication year - 1998
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.1998.tb00973.x
Subject(s) - suicidal behavior , psychology , trait , relation (database) , cognitive psychology , social problem solving , developmental psychology , poison control , human factors and ergonomics , computer science , medicine , environmental health , database , programming language
Research on suicidal behavior falls into two main areas: studies that aim to identify demographic and social risk factors, and studies that aim to investigate the psychological processes mediating suicidal behavior. Within the latter approach, impaired problem‐solving ability has been found to be an important variable. This paper reviews recent research focusing on problem‐solving deficits and their relation to suicidal behavior and considers some of the methodological problems that arise. These findings are discussed in terms of active versus passive problem solving, state or trait factors, and the psychological processes underlying problem solving. Suggestions for further research are made, focusing on the links between suicidal behavior, problem solving, and autobiographical memory.