Exploring Social Attitudes to Suicide Using a Predicament Questionnaire

Background: It is acknowledged that adverse events can lead to suicide.

Aim: To describe a questionnaire designed to measure attitudes to suicide, and the impact of particular circumstances on the thinking. This questionnaire can be used to compare individuals and groups of individuals, including those from different countries.

Method: A questionnaire based on real life adversities was developed. Respondents are presented with vignettes of fictitious characters faced with a series of difficult circumstances (predicaments). Respondents are asked to decide whether or not these characters would experience suicidal thoughts, and if so, to what degree. Responses were given numeric values and totals represented the Suicidal Attitude (SA) for each responder. We also calculated Suicidal Thoughts Induction (STI) for each predicament. Answers from 647 responders were analysed using descriptive statistic, Cronbach’s alpha and factor analysis.

Results: Predicament related questions form a single scale with Cronbach’s alpha 0.878. Psychometric characteristics suggest the measurement of a single construct related to SA. The predicaments could be ranked. No statistical difference in SA was found between males and females. The results suggest that there may be an association between social attitudes to suicide and suicide rates.

Conclusion: Social attitudes link life predicaments to suicide as an inevitable outcome. High scores on the Predicament Questionnaire in a group could translate into high suicide rates in that group. This tool may have uses in suicide prevention and further research.