Suicidal ideation and its determinants among Palestinian university students

Given the elevated prevalence of suicides among university students, higher education institutions must ascertain the extent of the problem and its associated risk factors. This study sought to assess the prevalence of suicidal ideation among university students and its association with depression, anxiety, impulsivity, and loneliness. The study utilized a cross-sectional design. A self-reported questionnaire was used to collect data, which included sociodemographic data, the Barratt Impulsiveness Scale-Short Form (BIS-15), the Suicidal Behaviors Questionnaire-Revised (SBQ-R), the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, and the UCLA Loneliness Scale. A total of 1,228 university students were recruited, with a high prevalence of suicidal ideation (21.3%). Single students experienced a higher likelihood to have suicidal ideation (AOR: 1.638, p-value = 0.038), whereas students whose mothers had more than 12 years of education exhibited a reduced probability of suicidal ideation(AOR:0.677, p-value = 0.011). The study found that university students without anxiety were less likely to have suicide ideation (AOR:0.372, p = 0.001). Participants who experienced loneliness were nearly three times more likely to have suicide ideation than those who did not (AOR: 2.994, p = 0.001). Finally, the results did not indicate an association between impulsivity, depression and suicidal ideation. The current study found an elevated prevalence of suicidal ideation among university students. Therefore, universities should provide suicide prevention programs and treatments for their students.