Exploring the Validity of the College Student Reasons for Living Inventory Among Asian American College Students

Abstract

We examined the cultural validity of the College Student Reasons for Living Inventory (CSRLI) with Asian American College Students (N = 314). Although results did not completely replicate the six factor structure of the CSRLI as identified in Westefeld, Cardin, and Deaton (1992), partial support was found. The content of the five factors that emerged corresponded to five of the original scales. Our factor solution accounted for 50.25% of common variance and demonstrated moderate to high coefficient alphas. Validity of the CSRLI subscales was supported through significant negative relations with measures of depression and hopelessness. Furthermore, the CSRLI subscales accounted for 8% of the variance in suicidal behavior above and beyond that accounted for by the risk factors of depression and hopelessness alone.

Keywords:

• Asian
• Asian American college students
• protective factors
• reasons-for-living
• suicide

Notes

Note. n's for No-Risk Group and Risk Group are 213 and 101, respectively.

***p < .001.

Note. N = 314. Depression is based on CES-D scores; Hopelessness is based on BHS scores.

*p < .01, **p < .001.