Body uneasiness and suicide risk in a non-clinical sample of university students.
Attitudes and feelings towards the body may be a source of pleasure and well-being; on the other hand, bodily dissatisfaction may lead to suffering, depression and even suicide. The study population consisted of 500 university students (190 males, 310 females); mean age of participants was 21.62 (SD = 2.70). Participants were assessed by means of the Body Uneasiness Test (BUT), the Reason for Living Inventory (RFL), and the Zung Self Depression Scale (SDS). Data underline a linear relationship between uneasiness linked to body image and possible suicide risk. Such evidence suggests that body uneasiness can be a source of psychological pain and in serious cases expose the individuals to an increased suicide risk. Yet, depression was the strongest correlate of increased suicide risk.
Pompili
Maurizio
M
Department of Psychiatry, Sant'Andrea Hospital, University of Rome La Sapienza, McLean Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02478, USA. maurizio.pompili@uniroma1.it
Girardi
Paolo
P
Innamorati
Marco
M
Tatarelli
Giulia
G
Ruberto
Amedeo
A
Ferrari
Vincenzo
V
Tatarelli
Roberto
R
D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001828:Body Image; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology; D013405:Suicide / Q000523:psychology*