Presentation

Geraldine Gualotuña, Silvia Vaca
Private Technical University of Loja

Abstract

Currently the mental health of university students has worsened, and some of them have developed serious mental disorders that can cause extreme reactions such as suicidal behavior. Depression statistics and suicide rates have increased, which makes it relevant to generate empirical evidence in the Ecuadorian context and among university population. Therefore, the objective of this research was to measure the prevalence of suicidal ideation and risk, and its relationship with depression and impulsivity in Ecuadorian university students. The sample consisted of 325 university students. The research design is non-experimental, cross-sectional, descriptive and correlational. The instruments used were: sociodemographic questionnaire ( Adhoc ), Barrat 's impulsiveness scale (BIS-11) and Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9). Results: 25% of the students reported suicidal ideation, 44% have minimal depression, and most of them have medium levels of impulsivity; a weak and significant positive correlation was obtained between impulsivity and suicide risk ( rs =0.40; p=<0.001) and a moderate positive correlation ( rs =0.616; p=<0.001) between depression and suicide risk. It is concluded that there is a strong association between the variable of suicide risk and depression. Therefore, it is important to consider these results to prevent suicide and safeguard mental health among this population.

Keywords:suicidal ideation and risk, depression; impulsivity, college students