Association between personality factors and suicide intent in attempted suicide: Gender as a possible mediator?

Gender appears to be a factor closely related to key suicide-related constructs.

The study aims to assess gender differences in personality factors among suicide attempters and to examine the role of gender in mediating the relationship between suicide attempts and selected personality attributes in the same group.

A chart review of 156 consecutive suicide attempters was carried out. All participants were administered the Beck Suicide Intent Scale (BSIS), Barratt Impulsivity Scale-11 (BIS-11), Buss-Perry Aggression Questionnaire (BPAQ) and Past Feelings and Acts of Violence (PFAV) Scale.

The suicidal intent and impulsiveness did not differ significantly between men and women, although men had significantly greater PFAV scores (t = 3.361, p = 0.001). BPAQ showed a significant difference between the genders (F = 3.621, p = 0.008; Wilk's Λ = 0.950, partial η(2) = 0.100), mainly for physical aggression (F = 11.006; p = 0.001; partial η(2) = 0.076) and anger (F = 4.298; p = 0.040; partial η(2) = 0.031).

Certain differences seem to be present between Indian male and female suicide attempters with regard to baseline personality attributes and their role in predicting suicide intent. The import of personality traits as potential targets for suicide prevention is worth exploring further.