Suicidal behavior, negative affect, gender, and self-reported delinquency in college students

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Criminology
• Public Health

Background:

• Suicidal behavior is a significant public health concern among college students.
• Understanding the interplay between negative affect, delinquency, and suicidal behavior is crucial for targeted interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the associations among suicidal behavior, negative affect, and delinquency in a college student population.
• To examine gender differences in these associations.

Main Methods:

• Anonymous self-report survey administered to 383 male and female college students.
• Assessment of suicidal ideation, attempts, suicide-proneness, negative affect (depression), and delinquency.
• Analysis of gender differences and the predictive power of delinquency and depression on suicide-prone behavior.

Main Results:

• No significant gender differences in suicidal ideation or attempts were found.
• College men reported significantly more delinquent behavior than women.
• Delinquency and depressive symptomology significantly predicted suicide-prone behavior, with higher variance explained in women (34%) than men (17%).
• Students with a history of depression, suicidal ideation/attempts, or juvenile arrest history reported higher levels of delinquency and suicide-proneness.

Conclusions:

• Complex links exist between depression, delinquency, and suicidal behavior in college students.
• Delinquency and depression are significant predictors of suicide-prone behavior.
• Juvenile arrest history is associated with increased risk for depression and suicidal ideation.