Sex Differences in Peer Responsiveness to Suicide Ideation (From Adolescent Suicide, P 127-145, 1988, Robert W. Cole, Jr., ed. -- See NCJ-117025)

• NCJ Number: 117031
• Author(s): M M Wellman; R J Wellman
• Date Published: 1988
• Length: 19 pages
• Sale Source: Phi Delta Kappa
• Publication Type: Survey
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: Reprinted from Suicide and Life-Threatening Behavior, V 16, No. 3, Fall 1986

Annotation

Attitudes toward suicide and beliefs about it were examined through two surveys of undergraduates at an urban public college in New England.

Abstract

The first survey had 473 participants, while the second had 692 participants. The questionnaire for the first survey had 51 items, while that for the second survey had 58 items, including reworded items and new items. The questions focused on knowledge of facts about suicide, attitudes toward and feelings about suicide, suicide ideation, suicidal behavior, and contact with others who had attempted or completed suicide. Results revealed sex differences in receptivity to suicidal individuals, beliefs about the behavior or suicidal peers, attitudes concerning the worth of suicidal people, incidence of adolescent suicide, and morality of suicide. The majority of the students of both sexes recognized that people close to them might be suicidal, did not judge suicidal individuals harshly, and were supportive of the needs of suicidal people. However, a higher proportion of males than females lacked these qualities. No sex differences were found in the participants' own frequency or seriousness of suicide ideation or suicide attempts. Discussion of the role of early socialization experiences, tables and 14 references. (Author abstract modified)