[The Barratt Impulsiveness Scale-Brief-8 in an Incarcerated Sample: Suicide Risk, Impulsivity and Mindfulness]

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Criminology
• Public Health

Context:

• Suicide attempts are a leading cause of death in correctional facilities.
• Identifying and mitigating suicide risk factors in prisoners is a critical public health concern.
• The integrated motivational-volitional model of suicidality highlights impulsivity's role.

Purpose:

• To perform a factor analysis of the Barratt Impulsiveness Scale-Brief-8 (BIS-R-8).
• To assess the mental health status and suicide risk factors within a prisoner sample.
• To model the impact of mindfulness skills on key suicide risk factors.

Summary:

• Factor analysis supports using the BIS-R-8 as a unidimensional scale for impulsivity assessment in prisoners.
• Prisoners exhibited higher levels of depression, hopelessness, perceived stress, and impulsivity, alongside lower coping skills, self-esteem, mindfulness, and well-being.
• Low mindfulness skills, directly and indirectly through perceived stress, explained 50% of depression variability. Depression and perceived stress were identified as primary modifiable risk factors for suicidal thoughts.

Impact:

• The BIS-R-8 is a viable screening tool for impulsivity as a suicide risk factor in correctional settings.
• Mindfulness-based interventions offer a promising avenue for enhancing prisoner mental health and reducing suicide rates.
• Findings contribute to a better understanding of suicide etiology in incarcerated populations and inform targeted interventions.