Decision Making Styles and Resilience as Correlates of Suicidal Ideation Among Undergraduates

Abstract

The study investigated decision making styles and resilience as correlates of suicidal ideation. The study was a survey study, that employed correlational design, and Pearson product moment correlation coefficient was used in analysing the data. Participants were 203 undergraduate students who were drawn from selected departments of five faculties in Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka campus. They consisted of 95 (47 %) males and 108 (53%) females. Their age ranged from 18 – 29 years, with a mean age of 22, and standard deviation of 2.0. Suicidal ideation scale, decision making styles scale and resilience were used for collecting data. Two hypotheses were stated. The result showed that resilience correlated negatively with suicidal ideation at r = -.171, p< .05 level of significance, whereas decision making styles (self-confidence, evasiveness, and complacency) correlated positively with suicidal ideation at r = .167*, r = .298**, r = .302**, p < .05. Based on the findings, recommendations were made, implications of the study were also drawn and suggestions for further studies and conclusions were made.