Acquired capability for suicide among Belgian and Australian University students: Psychometric properties of the German capability for suicide questionnaire and a test of the interpersonal theory of suicide

Acquired capability for suicide among Belgian and Australian University students: Psychometric properties of the German capability for suicide questionnaire and a test of the interpersonal theory of suicide

Objective: The Interpersonal Theory of Suicide (IPTS) posits fearlessness of death and pain tolerance as two components of suicide capability. The German Capability for Suicide Questionnaire (GCSQ) is the first measure of both these components, but few data are available on its psychometrics. We (a)...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Preece, David, Kiekens, Glenn, Boyes, Mark, Mortier, P., Nock, M., Kessler, R., Bruffaerts, R., Hasking, Penelope
Format: Journal Article
Language:English
Published: WILEY 2021
Subjects:
Science & Technology
Social Sciences
Life Sciences & Biomedicine
Psychiatry
Psychology, Multidisciplinary
Psychology
factor analysis
German Capability for Suicide Questionnaire
Interpersonal Theory of Suicide
measurement
suicide capability
CONSTRUCT-VALIDITY
COLLEGE-STUDENTS
FIT INDEXES
BEHAVIORS
THOUGHTS
FEARLESSNESS
VALIDATION
DEATH
Australia
Belgium
Humans
Psychological Theory
Psychometrics
Reproducibility of Results
Students
Suicidal Ideation
Suicide
Surveys and Questionnaires
Universities
Online Access:http://purl.org/au-research/grants/nhmrc/1173043
http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/93745
Description
Summary:Objective: The Interpersonal Theory of Suicide (IPTS) posits fearlessness of death and pain tolerance as two components of suicide capability. The German Capability for Suicide Questionnaire (GCSQ) is the first measure of both these components, but few data are available on its psychometrics. We (a) examined the psychometric properties of the GCSQ and used it to test (b) the latent structure of suicide capability and (c) its associations with suicidal behavior. Method: As part of the WHO World Mental Health International College Student Initiative, Belgian (N = 3715) and Australian (N = 2828) students completed the GCSQ (Dutch or English versions). Results: The factor structure of the GCSQ was well represented by two first-order factors (fearlessness of death, pain tolerance) and a higher-order suicide capability factor. The fearlessness of death scale and pain tolerance scale (minus two reverse-scored items) showed good reliability (α = 0.81– 0.90). Fearlessness of death was associated with suicidal behaviors, but the pain tolerance scale was inversely associated with suicidal behaviors. Conclusions: Consistent with the Interpersonal Theory of Suicide, fearlessness of death and pain tolerance are components of a higher-order suicide capability construct. The GCSQ is a reliable measure of this construct, though its pain tolerance scale requires modification.

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