Suicide Risk in College Students: The Effects of Internet Addiction and Drug Use

Abstract

This study aims to identify the factors in suicide risk among college students by examining the direct and indirect effects of drug use, internet addiction, gender, and alcohol use on suicide risk. The sample of the study is composed of 975 students studying at different faculties of Ahi Evran University during the academic year 2011– 2012. They were selected through convenience sampling. This study used the University Form of Risk Behaviors Scale and Internet Addiction Scale as the data collection instruments. A path analysis was conducted to view the effects of independent variables on suicide risk. Results showed that college students’ suicide risk is predicted by drug use and Internet addiction; and while gender and alcohol use do not have a direct significant effect on suicide risk, their indirect effects are significant. According to these results, suicide risk in university students is predicted by other risk behaviors. Thus, the importance of demonstrating the causal relationship between risk behaviors is discussed in the light of literature.