Development of a Questionnaire on Attitudes Towards Suicide (ATTS) and its Application in a Swedish Population

An instrument measuring attitudes toward suicide was developed through 2 postal questionnaire surveys, 1986 & 1996. A 10-factor model was obtained & comparisons between waves revealed an overall more permissive & pro-preventional attitude in 1996. The results implied complex relationships at the aggregated level between attitudes & suicidal behavior, depending on type of suicidal behavior, attitude factor, & subgroup. At the individual level, persons answering affirmative on own suicidal behavior held a more permissive & understanding attitude toward suicide. (28 refs)