title: Could a healthy ego identity serve as a protective factor against suicidal tendencies? A pilot study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The study investigated the interrelationship between adolescent ego identity, suicidal tendencies, gender and race in a sample of South African Indian and Black secondary school students.
  
  
  METHODS
  The Ego Identity Scale (EIS) and the Multi-attitude Suicide Tendency Scale (MAST) were administered to 63 learners between the ages of 15 and 20 years.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Pearson correlations and t-tests were used to analyse the data. The results indicate that higher scores on the EIS correlate with lower suicidal tendencies for this sample. In addition, higher scores were recorded by females on the Attraction to Death subscale and by Black males on the Attraction to Death, Repulsion by Life and Repulsion by Death subscales of the MAST.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The authors conclude that ego identity achievement is likely to serve as a protective factor against suicidal tendencies.
authors: Sarojini
authors: S
authors: Ramgoon
authors: Shaneel
authors: S
authors: Bachoo
authors: Cynthia
authors: C
authors: Patel
authors: Zubeda
authors: Z
authors: Paruk