Prospective Study on Suicidal Ideation Among Japanese Undergraduate Students: Correlation With Stressful Life Events, Depression, and Depressogenic Cognitive Patterns

The present study examines the effects of stressful life events, depression, & depressogenic cognitive patterns on suicide ideation in 500 Japanese undergraduates. These factors were assessed at baseline & two weeks later. At baseline, structural equation modelling confirmed that cognitive patterns & depression but not stressful life events influence suicide ideation & cognitive patterns also influence suicide ideation through depression. These findings were confirmed in a longitudinal analysis. Results suggest the effects of stressful life events on suicide ideation are indirect & are mediated by depressogenic cognitive styles & depressed mood. (59 refs.)