Psychological and Sociological Perspectives on Suicide: A Multi-Level Examination of Suicidal Thoughts and Attempted Suicide among Prisoners

Abstract

Informed by psychological and sociological perspectives, the present study aimed to improve knowledge on the nature of suicidal thoughts and attempted suicide among adult prisoners. Analyzing data from a nationally representative sample of 18,185 prisoners housed in 287 state and 39 federal prisons across the United States highlight: (a) key micro-level factors associated with suicidal thoughts and attempted suicide, along with some distinct predictive patterns for suicidal thoughts versus attempted suicide; (b) similarities and differences between male and female prisoners concerning the predictive patterns of suicidal thoughts and attempted suicide; (c) the relationship between macro-level prison characteristics and prisoner suicidality. Discussion points toward a direction for future research on prisoner suicidality, as well as recommendations for managing at-risk prisoners.

Keywords:

• Attempted suicide
• prisoners
• suicidal ideation
• suicidality

DISCLOSURE STATEMENT

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

AUTHOR NOTES

Bryce E. Stoliker and Simon N. Verdun-Jones, School of Criminology, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada. Adam D. Vaughan, School of Criminal Justice, Texas State University, San Marcos, Texas, USA.

Correspondence concerning this article should be addressed to Bryce E. Stoliker, School of Criminology, Simon Fraser University, 8888 University Drive, Burnaby, British Columbia V5A 1S6, Canada. Email: [email protected]

DATA AVAILABILITY

Survey data for this study were derived from the Inter-university Consortium for Political and Social Research (ICPSR), retrieved from: https://doi.org/10.3886/ICPSR04572.v5

Notes

1 It should be noted that this survey queried inmates on a mental disorder diagnosis according to the diagnostic classes for the fourth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders [DSM] (DSM-IV-TR; American Psychiatric Association, 2000). The fifth edition of the DSM (DSM-5; American Psychiatric Association, 2013) has introduced several amendments for diagnostic classes (e.g., re-classifying disorders, introducing new disorders, revising diagnostic criteria, etc.).

2 ‘Hallucinations’ was based on whether inmates could see things other people say are not really there or hear voices other people cannot hear. ‘Delusions’ was based on whether inmates believed other people could read their mind or believed other people had been able to control their brain or thoughts. Correlation with ‘schizophrenia/psychotic disorder’, r = 0.278, p < .001.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Bryce E. Stoliker

Bryce E. Stoliker and Simon N. Verdun-Jones, School of Criminology, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada.

Simon N. Verdun-Jones

Bryce E. Stoliker and Simon N. Verdun-Jones, School of Criminology, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada.

Adam D. Vaughan

Adam D. Vaughan, School of Criminal Justice, Texas State University, San Marcos, Texas, USA.