Comparing Risk and Protective Factors for Suicidal Behavior Among College Students with Disabilities

Abstract

There is little research on risk and protective factors for suicide in individuals with different types of disabilities. Those with hidden disabilities may experience unique challenges that could increase their suicide risk. The Integrated Motivational-Volitional (IMV) model emphasizes factors such as perceived burdensomeness, thwarted belongness, and attitudes towards oneself as critical to increasing risk for suicidal ideation. The current study aims to evaluate the applicability of this theory to those with disabilities. Because research shows that social support and resilience are protective, we will include those variables to expand the focus on protective factors. Among youth, school involvement and sense of belonging have also been found to protect against suicidal thinking and, along with having access to and satisfaction with mental health. The current study aims to investigate what risk and protective factors have the greatest influence on suicidal thinking among students with hidden disabilities, and how these groups compare to students with physical disabilities. We hypothesized that people with hidden physical, psychiatric, and learning disabilities would differ in levels of suicidality compared to those with visible disabilities and that different factors would predict suicidality.