Age, Gender, Stress and Self-Blame as Predictors of Suicidal-Ideation among Prison inmates in South East Nigeria

Abstract

The study of suicidal ideation has been a source of major concern throughout the world. The study examined the role of demographic variables, stress and self-esteem as predictors of suicidal ideation among prison inmates in Anambra State. A cross-sectional survey design was adopted in the study. Simple randomization technique was used to select two hundred and forty-six (246) inmates from Nigerian Prisons in Anambra State. Perceived Stress Scale (P.S.S), Self-Blame Sub Scale (S.B.S.S) and Suicide Ideation Scale (S.I.S), were used to gather the data of the study with Cronbach’s Alpha of .94 .91 and .97respectively.Three hypotheses were formulated and tested using multiple regression analysis. The results showed that demographic variables age, (β = .27), and gender (β = -.11) were significant predictors of suicidal ideation. Also, stress (β = .33), and self-blame (β = .41) significantly predicted suicidal ideation. Based on the findings of this study, it is recommended that Nigerian Prison Service should engage inmates into therapeutic programmes and clinical interventions that decrease self-blame and psycho-emotional development of coping ability to reduce ideation towards suicide.