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This research examines the relationships between means-ends problem solving and suicidality among adult male prison inmates in light of new evidence based on inpatient and college student populations suggesting that state, rather than trait, vulnerabilities may be responsible for problem-solving deficits and differences. Using the Means-Ends Problem-Solving Procedure (MEPS) with 93 state prison inmates, we found that among inmates with a history of parasuicide, current suicidality did not affect problem-solving performance. We further found that among nonsuicidal inmates, parasuicide history had no effect on problem solving or affect-suicidality measures. Although these results support new research suggesting that trait problem-solving deficits are not causally linked to suicidality, they raise questions about the potentially unique relationships among suicidality, problem solving, depression, and hopelessness in incarcerated populations.

The study was conducted to identify risk factors associated with parasuicide in a state prison setting that might provide direction and focus for prevention. A proposed model tested the ability of current clinical and background variables to predict parasuicide during incarceration among male inmates. Psychiatric history, symptomatology, and psychological functioning variables affected parasuicide directly and indirectly through their contribution to suicidal ideation. Among inmates with histories of alcohol abuse, however, hopelessness was a less significant predictor of parasuicide, suggesting that interaction effects may warrant more attention.