Rural adolescents' perceived personal risks for suicide

Rural adolescents' suicidal cognitions were assessed while conducting a larger project on risk perception. This allowed for a more indirect (less reactive) method of assessment than is typical in related research. High school students (n=455) rated on a 7-point scale their personal risks for 24 lethal events, including suicide. Over half the adolescents (56%) reported some risk for suicide, of which 12% reported that their subjective risk was quite likely. The rates are consistent with prevalence rates for suicidal ideations obtained from studies using more direct methods of assessment. Public high school students were significantly more likely to report serious suicide risks than parochial high school students. This finding is discussed in the context of Durkheim's proposition that religions deter self destructive impulses.Received Ph.D. from Southern Illinois University at Carbondale. Research interest: adolescents' perceptions of risks.Received Ph.D. from the University of Missouri. Research interests: in the areas of identity, self, and personality.