title: Suicidal Behavior and Psychological Distress in University Students: A 12-nation Study.
abstract: This study investigated the prevalence of suicidal behavior and psychological distress in university students across 12 nations. A total of 5,572 university students from 12 countries were surveyed about suicide ideation, suicide attempts, and psychological distress by means of a self-administered questionnaire. Almost 29% of the samples reported having contemplated suicide and 7% reported attempting suicide. Of the total sample, 51.1% scored above the General Health Questionnaire-12 ≥ 3 cut-off points, 41.6% above the GHQ-12 ≥ 4 cut-off points, and 33.8% scored above the GHQ-12 ≥ 5 cut-off points. While odds of suicide ideation were elevated in Austria and the UK, reduced ORs were detected for China, Italy, Saudi Arabia, Tunisia, and Turkey. Similarly, while odds of suicide attempt were high in Jordan, Palestine, Saudi Arabia, and to some extent in Turkey, reduced ORs were observed for Austria, China, Italy, Japan and the United States. Elevated ORs for psychological distress were seen in Japan, Jordan, Palestine, Saudi Arabia, Tunisia, and Turkey but reduced ORs were noted in Austria, China, Iran, Italy, and the United States. Psychological distress was strongly associated with reports of suicide ideation and attempts. Suicide ideation, suicide attempt, and psychological distress are common in university students but their rates vary depending on the sociocultural context. Due attention should be devoted to the mental health needs of young adults enrolled in higher educational institutions and more cross-cultural research is warranted to better understand the etiology of the observed intersocietal variations in suicidal behavior and psychological distress.
authors.forename: Mehmet
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Eskin
authors.forename: Jian-Min
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.forename: Jamila
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Abuidhail
authors.forename: Kouichi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Yoshimasu
authors.forename: Omar
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Kujan
authors.forename: Mohsen
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Janghorbani
authors.forename: Chris
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Flood
authors.forename: Mauro Giovanni
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Carta
authors.forename: Ulrich S
authors.initials: US
authors.lastname: Tran
authors.forename: Anwar
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mechri
authors.forename: Motasem
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hamdan
authors.forename: Senel
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Poyrazli
authors.forename: Khouala
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Aidoudi
authors.forename: Seifollah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bakhshi
authors.forename: Hacer
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Harlak
authors.forename: Maria Francesca
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Moro
authors.forename: Hani
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Nawafleh
authors.forename: Louise
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Phillips
authors.forename: Amira
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Shaheen
authors.forename: Shahama
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Taifour
authors.forename: Kanami
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tsuno
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Voracek
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003431:Cross-Cultural Comparison; D005260:Female; D014943:Global Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008603:Mental Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D020380:Needs Assessment; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology*; D059020:Suicidal Ideation; D013406:Suicide, Attempted / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014495:Universities / Q000706:statistics & numerical data
keywords: cross-cultural comparisons; psychological distress; suicide attempt; suicide ideation