The utility of a dual-factor mental health model for predicting pro-preventive orientation towards suicide
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| Year of publication | 2019 |
| Type | Appeared in Conference without Proceedings |
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| Description | Previous studies found that psychological symptoms (e.g., depression and anxiety) are related with attitudes towards suicide, while more questions occur about the relationship between psychological well-being and orientation towards prevention. The aim was to assess whether positive and negative conceptualization of mental health integrated together has predicting value for attitudes towards suicide prevention among the potential gatekeepers. A convenient sample of 239 helping profession students (166 females and 73 males, mean age of 22.84 ± 5.15) was recruited in the study (response rate over 98%). Study participants answered a set of questionnaires, including Questionnaire on Attitudes Towards Suicide (ATTS), Goldberg Health Questionnaire (GHQ-28) and Psychological Well-Being Scale (PWB-42). Hierarchical multiple regression models have shown that both psychological well-being (environmental mastery, purpose in life, positive relationships with others) and general mental health symptoms (anxiety, depression, social dysfunction and somatization) explained the variability of pro-preventive orientation. Sociodemographic variables were not related to attitudes towards suicide. Overall, findings suggest that positive mental health conceptualized as low emotional distress and high psychological well-being has moderate importance for predicting pro-preventive attitudes. Emotional overload and affective symptoms may be related to lower expectations of the provider towards the outcome of intervention. Positive functioning is regarded to improve readiness to prevent, which has implications for understanding helping behavior. |