The Beliefs in the Inheritance of Risk Factors for Suicide Scale (BIRFSS): Further Results on Demographic Correlates, Dimensionality, Reliability, and Validity

This study further validated the 22-item Beliefs in the Inheritance of Risk Factors for Suicide Scale, a novel instrument for assessing individuals’ beliefs in the genetics of suicide. Data from a general population sample of 159 Austrian adults showed adequate internal scale consistency. Due to deliberate content heterogeneity, the instrument has a subscale structure, but factor analysis of items extracted a dominant first factor. Scores were positively related to overall & specific knowledge on suicide facts, whereas unrelated to the Big Five personality dimensions, locus of control, social desirability, & verbal intelligence. (37 refs.)