Presence of trauma and suicide risk: Personal control as a moderator

Testing the Effectiveness of a Salutogenic Model for Reducing Suicidal Tendencies in a Population of Elderly and Young Adults

Suicide is a leading cause of mortality worldwide, with the elderly having the highest suicide rates. This study tests the effectiveness of a salutogenic model in normative elderly people compared with young adults in protecting against risk behaviors and suicidal tendencies, based on two variables: locus of control and meaning in life (mediating variable between locus of control and suicidal tendency). Participants were 191 people aged 65 to 100 years and 200 young adults aged 18 to 28 years old. Participants completed questionnaires on locus of control and purpose in life and were assessed for suicidal tendencies. Findings reveal a negative effect of age on locus of control, purpose in life, and a negative correlation between purpose in life and internal locus of control and suicidal tendency. Purpose in life mediates between internal locus of control and suicidal tendency in both populations. The salutogenic model has significant implications and can be used to reduce suicidal tendencies.

Coping Strategies and Suicidality: A Cross-Sectional Study From China

Background and Objective: Suicide is a leading cause of death in young people. Suicidal thoughts and behaviors can be triggered by life and study stresses; therefore, it is important to understand the role of coping strategies. The current study analyzed the link between different coping strategies and suicidality in university students in China. Methods: A cross-sectional study of 2,074 undergraduate students from China used a stratified-clustered-random sampling method (response rate 94.4%). The Suicidal Behaviors Questionnaire-Revised Scale was used to identify suicidal risks, while the Brief COPE scale was used to measure different coping strategies. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were utilized to examine coping strategies and suicidality. Results: A negative association of some coping skills (active coping and positive reframing) with suicidality and a positive association of some other coping skills (self-distraction, substance abuse, behavioral disengagement, venting, and self-blame) with suicidality were observed after adjusting for sociodemographic and mental health variables. Conclusions: Training and supporting young people to identify and apply adaptive coping strategies to deal with life stress could help to reduce suicidal ideation and behavior.