Suicide Ideation Among College Students: a Multivariate Analysis

The goal of this study was to develop a multi-dimensional model that might explain suicide ideation among college students. Face-to-face interviews were conducted with 1,249 first-year students. An estimated 6% had current suicide ideation. Depressive symptoms, low social support, affective dysregulation, & father-child conflict were each independently associated with suicide ideation. Only 40% of individuals with suicide ideation were classified as depressed. In the group who reported low levels of depressive symptoms, low social support & affective dysregulation were important predictors of suicide ideation. Alcohol use disorder was also independently associated with suicide ideation while parental conflict was not. (73 refs.)