Psychosocial Factors and Clinical Predictors of Suicide Risk in College Students

Abstract

Suicidal behavior in youth is a multi-causal phenomenon and a global public health problem. Studies to identify risk factors have increased in recent decades, however, studies rarely examine the combined and mediating effect of multiple psychosocial and clinical factors in predicting suicidal risk in college students. This study aims to analyze the psychosocial risk factors and clinical predictors associated directly and indirectly with suicide risk in Colombian university students. 786 students between the ages of 16 and 30 (M=22.34 years; SD=4.7) from the Luis Amigo Catholic University (Colombia) participated. 72% were women and 28% men. An ad hoc socio-demographic card was used with information about the history of attempted suicide (SAS), mental disorder (HMI) and family suicide attempts (SAF). Plutchik's Suicide Risk Scale (SR), Hopelessness Scale (BHS), Beck's Anxiety Scale (BAI) and Depression Scale (BDI) and Barratt's Impulsivity Scale (BIS) were used. It was found that 22% of the college students were at risk of suicide and 9.7% had attempted suicide in the past year. Significant (p<0.01) and positive correlations were found between SR, SAS, HMI, SAF, BHS, BAI, BDI and BIS. Binary regression analysis showed that depression (OR=1.2) anxiety (OR=1), impulsivity (OR=1.1), suicide attempts (OR=70), mental disorder and family suicide attempts (OR=2.0; OR=3.8) explained between 45% and 68% of the suicide risk variance. The structural equation model showed that impulsivity and suicide attempt are mediating variables for suicide risk. The totality of independent variables explained 65% of suicidal risk. These findings will help to orient the design of clinical strategies for the detection, prevention and intervention of suicidal risk in university contexts.