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Suicidality and helplessness

J M Ozment1, D Lester

  • 1Richard Stockton College of New Jersey, Pomona 08240-0195, USA.

Psychological Reports
|November 20, 1998
PubMed
Summary

Suicidal ideation in college students is linked to helplessness stemming from an internal locus of control. It is not associated with helplessness related to an external locus of control.

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Area of Science:

  • Psychology
  • Mental Health Research
  • Suicidology

Background:

  • Suicidal ideation is a significant concern among college students.
  • Locus of control, the degree to which people believe they have control over events in their lives, is a key psychological construct.
  • Helplessness, particularly in relation to control beliefs, may play a role in suicidal ideation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the relationship between prior suicidal ideation and helplessness in undergraduate students.
  • To differentiate the association of suicidal ideation with helplessness based on internal versus external locus of control.

Main Methods:

  • A sample of 70 undergraduate men and women participated in the study.
  • Participants completed scales measuring prior suicidal ideation.
  • Participants also completed helplessness scales assessing both internal and external locus of control.

Main Results:

  • Scores on prior suicidal ideation were significantly associated with scores on a helplessness scale based on an internal locus of control.
  • No significant association was found between prior suicidal ideation and scores on a helplessness scale based on an external locus of control.

Conclusions:

  • Internal locus of control-related helplessness is a potential correlate of suicidal ideation in undergraduates.
  • External locus of control-related helplessness does not appear to be associated with suicidal ideation in this population.
  • These findings highlight the importance of considering control beliefs in understanding and potentially preventing suicidal ideation among college students.

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