Abstract
Objective: to investigate, among nursing undergraduate students, the predictors of hope, suicidal thoughts and attitudes related to suicidal behavior. Methodology: Cross-sectional study, with a quantitative approach, developed in 2018 with 337 undergraduates from a Brazilian public university. We applied a sociodemographic, clinical and psychosocial questionnaire; the Suicide Behavior Attitude Questionnaire and the Herth Hope Scale. We used mean comparison tests, Pearson’s correlation test and binary logistic regression. Results: Predictors of hopelessness were psychiatric diagnoses, mental health treatment, absence of religious beliefs and dissatisfaction with the received social support. The chances of suicidal thoughts were higher among people with psychiatric diagnoses, dissatisfaction with the received social support, more understanding of the right to suicide and hopelessness. Predictors of more negative feelings about suicidal behavior were less professional competence and non participation in scientific events. Older students and those with less suicidal thoughts increased the chances of condemnatory attitudes. Predictors of fewer self-perceived competence were negative feelings about suicidal behavior, dissatisfaction with social support and less educational exposure (previous reading of suicide prevention materials or participation in events) and not having friends/relatives at suicide risk. Conclusion: it is important to develop and evaluate undergraduate support and educational strategies that consider the factors investigated in this study, in order to promote hope and training for suicide prevention.
Highlights
Suicide is a considerable public health problem
Considering the importance of investigating factors that may contribute to support and the qualification of professional training for the suicide prevention, the objective of this study was to investigate, among nursing undergraduate students, the predictors of hope, lifetime suicidal thoughts and attitudes related to suicidal behavior
Most of the students were matriculated in the undergraduate course of Bachelor in Nursing (56.2%), were enrolled in the final years of the course (52.3%) reported having attended mental health discipline (74.3%), participated in scientific events involving the topic of suicide prevention (66.3%) and read educational materials regarding this subject (55.0%)
Summary
In 2016, nearly 800,000 people die by suicide, it is worth mentioning that men are more likely to use lethal methods and the suicide rates in this population increase with age. Suicide rates were two times higher in men when compared to women, and its incidence reaches a peak among people aged 15 to 29 years (WHO, 2019). The investigation of suicidal thoughts among nursing undergraduates is relevant because this population is exposed to risks related to the strong and contradictory feelings experienced during university studies (Leal & Santos, 2016) and have a high prevalence of psychological stress (Ryan et al, 2010). Boys appear to be more likely to engage in suicidal ideation and behavior while girls have more social support mainly from parents and professors (Madjar et al, 2018)
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