Suicidal ideation and associated factors among high school and university students: a hierarchical analysis

ABSTRACT Objective To estimate the prevalence and analyze the factors associated with suicidal ideation in high school and college students. Methods Epidemiological, transversal, analytical study, carried out in Montes Claros, MG, Brazil. For data collection, a questionnaire was applied, containing questions related to sociodemographic, school, occupational, lifestyle, socio-affective and psychological conditions. Suicidal ideation was investigated using an item in the Beck Depression Inventory. In the data analysis, descriptive statistics of the variables and hierarchical Logistic Regression were used to evaluate the factors associated with suicidal ideation. Results There was a prevalence of suicidal ideation of 11.6% among high school students and 9.8% in higher education. In high school, the associated factors were: female gender (OR: 2.14; 95% CI: 1.39-3.27), drug use (OR: 3.25; 95% CI: 1.40-7.52), alcohol consumption (OR: 2.50; 95% CI: 1.54-4.04), feeling of anger and hostility (OR: 1.73; 95% CI: 1.05-2.87), burnout syndrome (OR: 2.27; 95% CI: 1.31-3.95). In higher education, the following factors were identified: absence of a partner (OR: 2.19; 95% CI: 1.68-4.14), night shift (OR: 0.51; 95% CI: 0.36-0.72), tobacco consumption (OR: 1.74; 95% CI: 1.05-2.91), absence of optimistic thinking (OR: 2.66; 95% CI: 1.75-4,03), internet addiction (OR: 1.64; 95% CI: 1.08-2.50), high body check habit (OR: 1.69; 95% CI: 1.15-2.50). Impaired sleep (OR: 1.62; 95% CI: 1.02-2.59; OR: 1.62; 95% CI: 1.05-2.51), impaired dialog interaction (OR: 3.04; 95% CI: 1.93-4.82; OR: 2.66; 95% CI: 1.81-3.92), feeling of disappointment and tension (OR: 4.80; 95% CI: 2.97-7.77; OR: 4.02; 95% CI: 2.69-6.02) were associated factors in both groups, respectively. Conclusion There was an important prevalence of suicidal ideation, associated with sociodemographic, lifestyle, socio-affective and psychic factors.