title: Idiocentrism, allocentrism, psychological well being and suicidal ideation: a cross cultural study.
abstract: The present study examined the relationship between idiocentrism, allocentrism, psychological well being (self-esteem, depression, and social support), and suicidal ideation among 283 American college students and 343 Chinese college students. Idiocentrism was correlated with high self-esteem, high depression, and low social support, but the relationships were more likely to be significant for women than for men in both cultures. Allocentrism was primarily related to social support. As predicted, high levels of suicidal ideation were correlated with more idiocentrism, but only for women. Allocentrism was related to lower levels of suicidal ideation in both cultures, but the relationship was small. As suicide prevention may start from suicidal ideation treatment, the treatment of suicidal ideation may have to take into account cultural and personal characteristics, such as idiocentrism.
authors.affiliation: Department of Sociology, SUNY College at Buffalo, NY 14222, USA. zhangj@buffalostate.edu
authors.forename: Jie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Jill M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Norvilitis
authors.forename: Travis Sky
authors.initials: TS
authors.lastname: Ingersoll
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D002681:China; D003431:Cross-Cultural Comparison; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007206:Individuality; D008297:Male; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011581:Psychological Tests / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012307:Risk Factors; D012649:Self Concept; D017678:Sex Distribution; D012931:Social Environment; D012944:Social Support; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology; D013405:Suicide / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014481:United States; D000092864:Suicide Prevention