title: Associations between impulsivity, aggression, and suicide in Chinese college students.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Although there are accumulating data regarding the epidemiology of suicide in China, there are meager data on suicidal ideation and attempts among college students. Interestingly, elevated impulsivity is thought to facilitate the transition from suicidal thoughts to suicidal behavior. Therefore, the objective of this research was to identify the associations between suicide and the personality factors of impulsivity and aggression.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study's sampling method employed stratified random cluster sampling. A multi-stage stratified sampling procedure was used to select participants (n = 5,245). We conducted structured interviews regarding a range of socio-demographic characteristics and suicidal morbidity. The Patient Health Questionnaire depression module (PHQ-9) was used to acquire the information about thoughts of being better off dead or hurting themselves in some ways during the past two weeks. The impulsivity symptoms in this study were assessed with the BIS-11-CH (i.e., the Chinese version of the BIS-11), and the Aggressive symptoms were assessed with the BAQ. The statistical package for social science (SPSS) v.13.0 program (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA) was used for statistical analysis. Socio-demographic variables such as ethnic and gender were compared between groups, through the use of χ2 tests. The nonparametric test (k Independent Sample test, Kruskal-Wallis H) was performed to determine differences between the personality factors of impulsivity and aggression and suicide.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In total, 9.1% (n = 479) of the 5,245 students reported they have ever thought about committing suicide; and 1% (n = 51) reported a history of attempted suicide (attempters). The analyses detected significant differences in scores on cognitive impulsivity (p < 0.01), when comparing individuals who only had suicidal ideation and individuals who had attempted suicide. Moreover, significant differences were found between ideators only and attempters on scores of self-oriented attack (p < .001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Suicidal ideation is prevalent among Chinese university students. Students with high aggression scores were more susceptible to committing suicide. Scores on self-oriented attack and cognitive impulsivity may be important factors for differentially predicting suicide ideation and suicide attempts.
authors.forename: Lin
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Chang Zhi
authors.initials: CZ
authors.lastname: He
authors.forename: Yun Miao
authors.initials: YM
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: Xiao Hui
authors.initials: XH
authors.lastname: Qiu
authors.forename: Xiu Xian
authors.initials: XX
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Zheng Xue
authors.initials: ZX
authors.lastname: Qiao
authors.forename: Hong
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sui
authors.forename: Xiong Zhao
authors.initials: XZ
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.affiliation: Psychology Department, Public Health Institute, Harbin Medical University, 157 Baojian Road, Nangang, Harbin 150081, China. yanjie1965@163.com.
authors.forename: Yan Jie
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Yang
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000374:Aggression / Q000523:psychology*; D044466:Asian People; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007175:Impulsive Behavior; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012307:Risk Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology*; D059020:Suicidal Ideation; D013405:Suicide / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D013406:Suicide, Attempted / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult