Self‐Esteem and Suicide Ideation in Psychiatric Outpatients

Abstract

Depression, hopelessness, and low self-esteem are implicated as vulnerability factors for suicide ideation. The association of self-esteem with suicide ideation after controlling for depressed mood and hopelessness was examined. Adult psychiatric outpatients (N = 338) completed measures of self-esteem, suicide ideation, hopelessness, and depression. Self-esteem was operationalized as beliefs about oneself (self-based self-esteem) and beliefs about how other people regard oneself (other-based self-esteem). Each dimension of self-esteem was negatively associated with suicide ideation after controlling for depression and hopelessness. Of the two dimensions of self-esteem, other-based self-esteem was the more robust predictor of suicide ideation. These findings suggest that even in the context of depression and hopelessness, low self-esteem may add to the risk for suicide ideation.

The moderating effects of coping and self-esteem on the relationship between defeat, entrapment and suicidality in a sample of prisoners at high risk of suicide

“…This finding is in accord with previous literature sampling populations across countries, communities, and psychiatric settings [3,8,23,26,37]. Two further studies, found that low levels of self-esteem were associated with suicidality in male [41], and female prisoners [50].…”

School grades, parental education and suicide--a national register-based cohort study

“…Bursztein also emphasises the strong relationship between adolescent's aggression and impulsivity and suicide risk 24. Individuals with poorer school grades might run a higher risk for increased psychological stress and lower self-esteem, which alone is a well-known risk factor for suicide 2 3…”

“…School is an important arena in young persons' everyday life and success as well as failure may influence psychological stress and self-esteem—factors that are associated with suicide risk 2 3…”

Suicidal ideation among a group of depressed outpatients

“…8 Depression and hopelessness form a significant composite predictor of suicide ideation. 9 The present study aimed to examine both the rate and the risk factors of suicidal ideation among a group of depressed outpatients and to know the relation between the severities of depression, hopelessness with suicidal ideation.…”