Risk and resilience: Suicidal crises in university populations

This study examines the relationship between three hypothesized risk phenomena and three hypothesized resilience phenomena and suicidal ideation in university populations. In order to test these hypotheses, data was analyzed from the Spring 2008 American College Health Association-National College Health Assessment (ACHA-NCHA), which included responses from over 80,000 students at 106 institutions. The results of this study yielded several significant relationships between the variables examined and suicidal ideation in university students. With respect to risk phenomena, the results of this study found that university students who identified as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgendered or questioning reported significantly higher levels of suicidal ideation than students who identified as heterosexual. Furthermore, students who identified as either bisexual or questioning reported significantly higher levels of suicidal ideation than students who identified as gay/lesbian. Additionally university students reported significantly higher levels of suicidal ideation with each drop in grade point average from A to B to C to D/F; students with a D/F average reporting the highest levels of suicidal ideation. Finally, students who reported living at home with their parents while attending a university had significantly higher levels of suicidal ideation than students who reported living in all other living arrangements. This study also found significant relationships with respect to resilience phenomena and suicidal ideation in university students. Students who reported living in a fraternity or sorority house reported significantly lower levels of suicidal ideation than nearly all other student living arrangements. Also, students who identified as members of a social fraternity or sorority reported significantly lower levels of suicidal ideation than students who were not members of a social fraternity or sorority. Finally, students whose relationship status was married or partnered reported significantly lower levels of suicidal ideation than any other student relationship status including students who were engaged or in a committed relationship.