Gender and History of Suicidality: are These Factors Related to U.S. College Students’ Current Suicidal Thoughts, Feelings, and Actions?

Gender & history of suicidality were related to current symptoms of depression, reasons for living & report of suicidal behaviours in a sample of 242 college students. Males reported engaging in more suicidal behaviours on the Life Attitudes Scale than did females. Gender & a history of suicidality were found to interact. Findings were interpreted in terms of cultural & gender-specific expectations for the expressio n of suicidal behaviours. Implications for prevention were also noted. (50 refs)