Assessing suicide risk among callers to crisis hotlines: a confirmatory factor analysis.
Our goal was to investigate the factor structure of a risk assessment tool utilized by suicide hotlines and to determine the predictive validity of the obtained factors in predicting subsequent suicidal behavior. We conducted an Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA), an EFA in a Confirmatory Factor Analysis (EFA/CFA) framework, and a CFA on independent subsamples derived from a total sample of 1,085. Similar to previous studies, we found consistent evidence for a two-factor solution, with one factor representing a more pernicious form of suicide risk (i.e., Resolved Plans and Preparations; RPP) and one factor representing milder suicidal ideation (i.e., Suicidal Desire and Ideation; SDI). The RPP factor trended toward being more predictive of suicidal ideation at follow-up than the SDI factor.
Witte
Tracy K
TK
Department of Psychology, Florida State University, P.O. Box 3064301, Tallahassee, FL 32306-4301, USA. witte@psy.fsu.edu
Gould
Madelyn S
MS
Munfakh
Jimmie Lou Harris
JL
Kleinman
Marjorie
M
Joiner
Thomas E
TE
Kalafat
John
J
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D005163:Factor Analysis, Statistical; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D015277:Hotlines; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018570:Risk Assessment / Q000379:methods; D012737:Sex Factors; D059020:Suicidal Ideation; D013405:Suicide / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D013406:Suicide, Attempted / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult; D000092864:Suicide Prevention