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Risk factors for suicidal ideation in university students
Pablo Valentino Aguilar Chávez1, Marco Antonio Talavera Cubas2, Marilú Trinidad Flores Lezama3
1Universidad César Vallejo, Chepén, Perú. E-mail: paguilarch25@gmail.com Universidad César Vallejo Chepén Perú paguilarch25@gmail.com.
Revista Cuidarte
|May 22, 2026
Summary
University students in Peru face significant risks of suicidal ideation, strongly linked to depression, sexual violence, and past trauma. These factors highlight the urgent need for targeted mental health support in higher education.
Area of Science:
- Psychiatry and Mental Health
- Public Health
- Sociology
Background:
- Suicide is a critical public health issue, ranking as the second leading cause of death among university students.
- A significant proportion of university students (one in four) report suicidal ideation, often associated with poor mental health and prior trauma.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify and analyze the risk factors contributing to suicidal ideation among university students in the La Libertad region of Peru.
- To quantify the association between various sociodemographic and psychological factors and the prevalence of suicidal ideation in this population.
Main Methods:
- A quantitative, non-experimental study utilizing a multivariable analytical design.
- Involved 380 university students selected via simple random probability sampling.
- Utilized the Beck Scale for Suicidal Ideation (Peruvian adaptation) and a sociodemographic/psychological factors questionnaire, administered online. Data analyzed using logistic regression and odds ratios.
Main Results:
- Suicidal ideation was reported by 25% of participants, with higher prevalence in younger students (17-21 years), females, socioeconomic level C, and first-year students.
- Key risk factors identified include depression (OR=5.437), sexual violence (OR=3.437), and childhood/adolescent trauma (OR=2.402).
- The predictive models explained a substantial portion of the variance in suicidal ideation, ranging from 36.9% to 76.5%.
Conclusions:
- Depression, sexual violence, and traumatic experiences are significant predictors of suicidal ideation among Peruvian university students.
- The strong association with depression and the emergence of sexual violence as a critical factor suggest unique cultural contexts in Peru.
- Findings underscore the importance of addressing sociodemographic and psychological factors, particularly violence and trauma, in mental health interventions for university students.
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