Six Month Follow-Up on Risk Factors for Suicidal Ideation among College Students: A Longitudinal Examination

Study to be discussed at the 12th International Mental Health Conference on the Gold Coast in August 2011

 

Oren Shtayermman, PhD

 This study was a six month follow-up in a longitudinal study examining the following in adolescents and young adults attending college: 1) the level of suicidal ideation, prevalence of comorbid psychiatric disorders (Major Depressive Disorder and Generalized Anxiety Disorder), degree of peer victimization, and 2) the association of suicidal ideation with: socio demographics, Major Depressive Disorder (MDD), level of depressive symptomatology, Generalized Anxiety Disorder, level of anxiety symptomatology, total degree of peer victimization.

Questionnaires were completed by each participant remaining in the follow up group. In wave II, the sample included 95 adolescents and young adults out of the original 493 students who participated in wave I. Thirteen percent (13%) of the sample had clinically significant levels of suicidal ideation, 3.2% met the criteria for dysthmia and 15.8% and 17.9% met the DSM-IV criteria for a diagnosis of Major Depressive Disorder and Generalized Anxiety Disorder, respectfully. In addition, 9.5% met the diagnostic criteria for alcohol dependence and 16.8% met the diagnostic criteria for drug abuse.

In wave I, overall, 33% of the variance was explained in suicidal ideation, with depression and anxiety factors accounting for 23% of the variance. A final trimmed model of hierarchical linear regression indicated that the presence of social support moderated levels of suicidal ideation with regard to age, marital status, sexual orientation, and anxiety symptoms.

In wave II, overall, 23% of the variance was explained in suicidal ideation with depressive symptoms, presence of anxiety and high relational victimization scores accounting for 15% of the variance.

Oren Shtayermman, PhD, MSW
Chairperson, Department of Interdisciplinary Health Sciences
Mental Health Counseling Program Director
School of Health Professions - NEW YORK

The 12th International Mental Health Conference 2011 - "Personality Disorders - Out of the Darkness"
Radisson Resort, Gold Coast - Wednesday 24th August – Friday 26th August 2011.