Attitudes towards Two Suicidal Stages among University Students in Lebanon and the Role of Spousal Acceptance and Individual Charecteristics

Abstract

Attitudes towards suicide vary according to individual characteristics and contextual factors. There is little literature on whether negative attitudes towards suicide also reflect a concern for those who are close to the suicidal person. Additionally, no known study has explored whether attitudes vary according to which suicidal stage is being considered, whether ideation or intent. This study investigated attitudes towards suicide using a vignette-based measure. The vignette presents a middle-aged married person X who suffers from a chronic mental illness and contemplates then decides to end his/her life. The sample had more accepting attitudes towards suicidal ideation than towards suicidal intent. Only religiosity and depression emerged as consistent predictors of attitudes. Individualism was a predictor for attitudes towards suicidal ideation only and no effect was found for spousal acceptance or lack thereof on attitudes towards suicide. Results also indicated more accepting attitudes towards suicidal ideation but not towards suicidal behavior.