Suicidality, Hopelessness, and Attitudes Toward Life and Death in Children
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
3-1-1993
Department
Psychology
Abstract
To replicate and expand the Orbach, Gross, and Glaubman (1981) model of suicidal behavior in children, 60 children, ages 6 to 13, reported their own suicidal thoughts and behaviors using the Suicidal Behaviors Questionnaire (Linehan, 1981). Scores were correlated with the four dimensions of Orbach's model (attraction to life, repulsion by life, attraction to death, and repulsion by death) and with hopelessness using the Hopelessness Scale for Children. A multiple regression analysis indicated that neither attitudes toward life and death nor hopelessness accounted for a significant amount of variance in suicidal behaviors. The only significant correlation was between hopelessness and repulsiveness of death. Hopeless children were less repulsed by death than were relatively more hopeful children. Diminished repulsion by death could be a preliminary warning sign that a normal barrier against suicide is weakening.
Publication Title
Death Studies
Volume
17
Issue
2
First Page
185
Last Page
191
Recommended Citation
Cotton, C. R.,
Range, L. M.
(1993). Suicidality, Hopelessness, and Attitudes Toward Life and Death in Children. Death Studies, 17(2), 185-191.
Available at: https://aquila.usm.edu/fac_pubs/6453