title: Mediating effects of stress, weight-related issues, and depression on suicidality in college students.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Through a holistic health lens, the current study examines the effects of weight-related issues and stress on suicidality while controlling for depressive symptoms in college students.
  
  
  METHODS
  In total, 872 undergraduate and graduate students at DePaul University completed the American College Health Association-National College Health Assessment II Web-based survey in Spring 2010.
  
  
  METHODS
  Measures of suicidality, depression, weight-related issues, and life stressors were assessed, along with gender differences.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Females reported experiencing more weight loss attempts and total stressors than males. Weight-related issues and stress both significantly predicted depressive symptoms in a path analysis; depressive symptoms, in turn, significantly predicted suicidality. Gender differences were found; depressive symptoms mediate the relation between stress and suicidal behavior for females but not for males.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This investigation furthers previous research on suicidality in college students and suggests that all-inclusive interventions that address weight-related issues and stress may help reduce depressive symptoms, which then may reduce suicidal behavior.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Psychology DePaul University Chicago , Illinois.
authors.forename: Sydney S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: Jocelyn
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Smith Carter
authors.forename: Sabrina
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Karczewski
authors.forename: Bernadette
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Pivarunas
authors.forename: Shannon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Suffoletto
authors.forename: Art
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Munin
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001835:Body Weight; D003863:Depression / Q000150:complications; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012307:Risk Factors; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000150:complications; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology*; D013405:Suicide / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014495:Universities
keywords: depression; stress; suicide; weight