Depression, Self-Defeating, and Self-Destructive Behaviors as Predictors of Suicide Ideation in Males and Females

Previous studies have implicated depression, self-defeating behaviours, & self-destructive behaviours in suicide ideation. The present research directly compared these 3 concepts as predictors of both males’ (n=51) & females’ (n=78) suicide ideation. Analysis confirmed gender differences, with depression and self-defeating behaviours predicting females’ suicide ideation, & self-destructive behaviours predicting males’ suicide ideation. These results suggest that suicide may be related to these subtle yet relevant factors which may not be easily detected by mental health workers. (10 refs.)