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Basic psychological needs, suicidal ideation, and risk for suicidal behavior in young adults.
Peter C Britton1, Kimberly A Van Orden, Jameson K Hirsch
1Department of Veterans Affairs, Canandaigua Medical Center, VISN 2 Center of Excellence for Suicide Prevention, Canandaigua, NY, USA; Center for the Study and Prevention of Suicide, Department of Psychiatry, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY, USA.
Suicide & Life-Threatening Behavior
|February 6, 2014
Summary
Meeting basic psychological needs for autonomy, competence, and relatedness significantly lowers suicidal ideation and risk for suicidal behavior in young adults. This protective effect highlights the importance of psychological well-being in suicide prevention.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Mental Health
- Public Health
Background:
- Basic psychological needs for autonomy, competence, and relatedness are fundamental to well-being.
- Understanding factors influencing suicidal ideation and behavior is crucial for effective prevention strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the association between the satisfaction of basic psychological needs and suicidal ideation.
- To investigate the link between need satisfaction and risk for suicidal behavior among university students.
Main Methods:
- Cross-sectional study involving 440 university students.
- Logistic regression analyses were used to assess the impact of need satisfaction on suicidal ideation and risk.
- Demographics and depressive symptoms were controlled for in the analyses.
Main Results:
- A significant inverse relationship was found between basic psychological need satisfaction and both suicidal ideation and risk for suicidal behavior.
- Each one standard deviation increase in need satisfaction reduced the odds of suicidal ideation by 53% and risk for suicidal behavior by 50%.
- 15% of participants reported suicidal ideation, and 18% were identified as being at risk for suicidal behavior.
Conclusions:
- Satisfying basic psychological needs may serve as a protective factor against suicidal ideation and behavior in young adults.
- These findings underscore the importance of fostering environments that support autonomy, competence, and relatedness to promote mental health.
- Further prospective research is recommended to confirm these associations and explore causal pathways.
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