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Helplessness, hopelessness, and haplessness and suicidality
1Center for the Study of Suicide, Blackwood, NJ 08012-5356, USA.
Psychological Reports
|July 24, 1998
Summary
Hopelessness best predicts depression and suicidal thoughts in college students. A history of suicide attempts is best predicted by helplessness, indicating distinct psychological factors.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Clinical Psychology
- Mental Health Research
Background:
- Depression and suicidal ideation are significant concerns in college student populations.
- Understanding predictive factors for these conditions is crucial for intervention.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify key psychological predictors of depression and suicidal ideation.
- To determine factors associated with a history of attempted suicide.
Main Methods:
- Surveyed 141 college students.
- Assessed scores on depression, suicidal ideation, hopelessness, and helplessness.
- Analyzed predictive relationships between these variables.
Main Results:
- Hopelessness scores were the strongest predictor of depression and suicidal ideation.
- Helplessness scores were the strongest predictor of a history of attempted suicide.
Conclusions:
- Hopelessness and helplessness represent distinct psychological constructs with differential predictive power.
- These findings can inform targeted prevention and intervention strategies for at-risk college students.