Prevalence and Associated Factors of Suicidal Ideation and Suicide Attempts in Undergraduate Psychology Students in Colima

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Jesús Jonathan Caro Valle

Abstract

The aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence and associated factors of suicidal ideation and attempt in a sample of undergraduate students from the Faculty of Psychology at the University of Colima. A cross-sectional study was conducted with a sample of 203 students aged 17 to 29 (M=19.58, SD=±1.57), of whom 82.26% were women and 17.73% were men. Sociodemographic variables, suicidal ideation and attempt, as well as levels of depression, anxiety, and stress were assessed using validated and standardized instruments. The results revealed a high lifetime prevalence of suicide attempt (28.1%) and suicidal ideation (6.9%), with no significant differences between sex.
Furthermore, a significant association was identified between suicidal behavior and depression, which explained 41.3% of the variance and was identified as a robust predictor of this behavior. A key finding was that students with high levels of depression were 17 times more likely to exhibit suicidal ideation and attempt. Unexpectedly, high anxiety behaved as a potential protective factor against suicidal behavior, reducing the odds of a suicide attempt by 64%. Overall, the findings point to a concerning prevalence of suicidal behavior in the university population analyzed, with depression as the main risk factor. The potentially protective role of anxiety requires further exploration.
These results underscore the urgent need to implement early detection and psychological intervention programs focused on mental health promotion within the university environment.

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How to Cite
Caro Valle, J. J. (2025). Prevalence and Associated Factors of Suicidal Ideation and Suicide Attempts in Undergraduate Psychology Students in Colima. Journal of Behavior, Health & Social Issues, 17(2), 47–52. Retrieved from https://revistas.unam.mx/index.php/jbhsi/article/view/94400

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