Factors Predicting Intent to Intervene with a Potentially Suicidal Peer

Abstract

The current study examined how the theory of planned behavior (TPB) constructs predict college students’ intent to ask about suicide and refer a potentially suicidal peer to support. Using an experimental design, 420 college students (M_age = 19.61, SD = 1.50 yrs) were randomly assigned to read one of four vignettes depicting a peer in distress that varied suicide risk severity (low vs. high) and perceived causes of the distress (internal vs. external). Participants read their vignette and answered questions measuring TPB constructs and items assessing intent to ask about suicide and intent to refer the peer to services. Results indicated that subjective norms were associated with intent to ask about suicide and attitudes impact intent to refer. Only the interaction between risk severity and perceived behavioral control in predicting intent to refer and intent to ask were significant. Peers who perceive risk to be high are more likely to refer peers regardless of perceived behavioral control and are increasingly more likely to ask about suicide as perceived behavioral control increases. When risk severity is low and perceived behavioral control is low, peers are less likely to refer or ask about suicide. The theory of planned behavior has relevance to understanding peer intent to intervene with an at-risk peer and may be beneficial to guiding the development of effective suicide prevention programs.

Keywords:

• theory of planned behavior
• peer intervention
• gatekeeper
• suicide risk
• college student

ACKNOWLEDGMENT

We wish to thank Elizabeth Farley and Michael Kosiak for their assistance with participant recruitment, data collection, and early planning of the study.

SUPPLEMENTAL DATA

Supplemental data for this article can be accessed at publisher’s weblink.

Notes

1 We ran each regression model including all the covariates as well as models with just gender, prior training, and social desirability. The results did not change across all these analyses (available upon request). In all the models run, gender and prior training did not have significant effects, but social desirability did to a similar magnitude as presented in the results.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Jennifer J. Muehlenkamp

Jennifer J. Muehlenkamp, Department of Psychology, University of Wisconsin–Eau Claire, Eau Claire, WI, 54702, USA.

Christopher R. Hagan

Christopher R. Hagan, Department of Psychology, University of Wisconsin–Eau Claire, Eau Claire, WI, 54702, USA.