Sex and emotion in the acquired capability for suicide

Arch Suicide Res. 2011;15(2):172-82. doi: 10.1080/13811118.2011.566058.

Abstract

This article examined the impact of distress tolerance on sex differences in the acquired capability for suicide. Two hundred undergraduate participants filled out a series of questionnaires related to emotions and suicide risk. Males exhibited higher mean levels of the acquired capability than did women and distress tolerance interacted with sex to predict the acquired capability (β = -.70, p < .02), such that males with high distress tolerance were at the greatest risk. These results indicate that the degree to which an individual can tolerate negative emotions impacts the strength of the relationship between sex and the acquired capability for suicide.

MeSH terms

  • Adaptation, Psychological*
  • Adult
  • Emotions*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Predictive Value of Tests
  • Psychological Tests
  • Psychometrics
  • Sex Factors
  • Stress, Psychological / psychology*
  • Students / psychology*
  • Suicide / psychology*
  • Surveys and Questionnaires
  • United States
  • Universities
  • Young Adult