Abstract
In this paper, we sought to examine the levels of suicidal risk and anxiety, as well as the coping strategies used in a sample of 154 Spanish university students, most of them first-year students, during the situation of confinement and the pandemic. After approval by the Ethics Committee, instruments for the evaluation of these constructs were administered. An ex post facto design was used. A high level of suicide risk was not found in the sample. Statistically significant differences were found in the levels of suicidal risk and anxiety according to gender, with higher scores in both variables for women. Likewise, the coping strategies of self-criticism and social withdrawal show direct associations with the levels of suicidal risk. We conclude by pointing out the relevance of the data obtained for a more effective design of psychoeducational interventions to face these public health problems with the training of effective coping strategies.
Highlights
Suicidal behavior has been considered a public health problem
In regards to the gender variable, statistically significant differences were found according to gender in the levels of suicidal risk (t = −2.31, p < 0.05), and state anxiety according to gender (t = −1.96, p < 0.05)
We evaluated the levels of suicidal risk and anxiety, as well as the coping strategies used in a sample of university students
Summary
Suicidal behavior has been considered a public health problem. (e.g., see [1]). As stated in a recent article, “Etymologically, suicide (sui: “oneself ”; caedere: “to kill”) is the intentional act of causing one’s death.” ([1], p. 107). Suicidal behavior has been considered a public health problem. One of the consolidated models is that of the interpersonal psychological theory of suicidal behavior [2] in which for a person to commit suicide, two elements must be present; the desire to die by suicide, having the ability to do so. State-anxiety can be defined as an immediate and modifiable “emotional state” over time while trait-anxiety refers to a relatively more stable personality trait or tendency [3]. In the current pandemic situation, it is essential to examine the levels of anxiety and suicidal risk in university students. In a previous study [6] the level of suicidal risk was assessed by applying the same scale that has been administered in this study to a sample of 93 university nursing students, finding that depression and emotional care are significant predictors of suicidal ideation, while self-esteem and emotional intelligence
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