College students' perceptions of suicide: the role of empathy on attitudes, evaluation, and responsiveness.
A total of 334 college-age students (18719 years) participated in a study investigating the role of empathy in perceptions of and responsiveness toward a hypothetical friend exhibiting symptoms associated with suicide risk. High-empathy participants viewed both affective and behavioral characteristics associated with suicide risk as more serious, and they were more likely to provide direct assistance and talk with the troubled peer. Gender of participant and type of symptom displayed also emerged as important factors in participants' evaluations. These findings underscore the importance of considering social-cognitive factors that may influence perceptions of at-risk behaviors. The implications of these findings for the development of primary prevention intervention efforts are discussed.
Mueller
Michaele A
MA
Northern Illinois University, Dekalb, Illinois, USA.
Waas
Gregory A
GA
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D004645:Empathy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology; D014495:Universities; D000092864:Suicide Prevention