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Stress, social support, and problem-solving appraisal/skills: Prediction of suicide severity within a college sample

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Abstract

This study assessed whether stress, social support, and interpersonal problem-solving appraisal/skills were predictive of level of suicidality within a chronic suicidal college sample. Stepwise regression analyses were used to assess whether stress, social support, and problem-solving were independently predictive of severity of suicide ideation. In addition, hierarchical regression analyses were used to test the mediational nature of social support and problem-solving in the stress-suicidality relationship. Problem-solving confidence was found to be a significant predictor of severity of suicide ideation. In addition, both perceived problem-solving skills and social support mediated the relationship between stress and level of suicide ideation. However, only one of the two perceived problem-solving skills interactions was in the expected direction. This study provided support for the importance of problem-solving confidence and the interaction of stress and social support in the prediction of suicide severity. Unlike previous studies, this study did not find problem-solving skills/deficits to mediate the stress-suicidality relationship.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, 24061, Blacksburg, Virginia

    George A. Clum & Greg A. R. Febbraro

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  1. George A. Clum
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  2. Greg A. R. Febbraro
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This research was supported by NIMH Grant 1-18MH48133.

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Clum, G.A., Febbraro, G.A.R. Stress, social support, and problem-solving appraisal/skills: Prediction of suicide severity within a college sample. J Psychopathol Behav Assess 16, 69–83 (1994). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02229066

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