The effects of physical and psychological well-being on suicidal ideation

Abstract

This study examines a theoretical model of suicidal ideation with physical symptoms (physical well-being) and self-esteem (psychological well-being) as two competitive predicting variables. The national sample of 1,433 cases was drawn in the People's Republic of China in March 1 995. Results indicate that both suicidal ideation and attempt rates are lower in the Chinese population than in other populations studied, and as found in the West, Chinese women are more likely to think about and to attempt suicide than Chinese men. LISREL analysis of the model shows that psychological well-being (self-esteem) is a much stronger predictor of suicidal ideation than physical well-being (physical symptoms), especially when depression is introduced as an intervening variable in the model.

Suicidal Ideation Among Young Adults: Effects of Perceived Social Support, Self-Esteem, and Adjustment

“…Level of distress and perceived social support affect the tendency to report on suicidal ideation. This finding corresponds with previous reports in the literature, which have associated the tendency toward suicidal ideation with affective (Warheit et al, 1996;Reynolds, 1991) and physical expressions (Dubow et al, 1989;Jin & Zhang, 1998) of adjustment difficulties.…”

“…Low and negative self-esteem is accompanied by feelings of worthlessness, inferiority, loneliness, depression, anxiety, and guilt, undermining values of achievement and personal abilities and preventing social adjustment and integration (Coopersmith, 1967). Various studies indicate the association between low self-esteem and suicidal behavior in general (e.g., Pfeffer, 1989) and suicidal ideation in particular (Overholser et al, 1995;De Mann & Leduc, 1995;Reynolds, 1991;Jin & Zhang, 1998). As in the aforementioned models, the linkage between low self-esteem and suicidal ideation may be explained by both the mediating and moderating models.…”

“…Others claim that the adjustment to stress and not the exposure itself predicts suicidal ideation (De Mann & Leduc, 1995, Warheit, Zimmerman, Khoury, Vega, & Gil, 1996. Among the expressions of adjustment difficulties that predict suicidal ideation in adolescents are depression (De Mann & Leduc, 1995), anxiety (Reynolds, 1991), stress reactions (Warheit et al, 1996), helplessness (Overholser et al, 1995), physical symptoms (Dubow et al, 1989;Jin & Zhang 1998) and perceived health (De Mann & Leduce, 1995).…”

Suicide Ideation in the South African Police Services in the Northwest Province

“…Lester (1987) as well as Lester and Francis (1993) investigated the relationship between suicide ideation and personality variables and indicated that neuroticism is strongly (positively) related to suicidal thinking in non-clinical samples. Jin and Zhang (1998) found that psychological well-being is a much stronger predictor of suicide ideation than physical well-being, especially when an individual su¡ers from depression. Velting (1999) found a positive correlation between neuroticism and suicide ideation, and a negative correlation with self-discipline.…”

The Interplay Among Risk Factors for Suicidal Ideation and Suicide: The Role of Depression, Poor Health, and Loved Ones' Messages of Support and Criticism

“…The possibility that being a burden to others triggers suicidal tendencies may help explain why risk factors for suicidal behavior include poor physical health (Jin & Zhang, 1998;Kel, Ravies, & Davies, 1991), depression (e.g., Beck, Steer, Beck, & Newman, 1993;Brubeck & Beer, 1992;de Man & Leduc, 1995;Jin & Zhang, 1998;Yang & Clum, 1994), and job loss (Brown, Beck, Steer, & Grisham, 2000;Dooley et al, 1994;Kessler, House, & Turner, 1987). Those who are physically ill, depressed, or who have lost their job may be more likely than those in good physical and mental health, or who are gainfully employed, to overextend family resources and consequently to feel like a burden.…”