Depression, suicidal preoccupation and purpose in life in a subclinical population

https://doi.org/10.1016/0191-8869(92)90221-AGet rights and content

Abstract

Scores from the Purpose-in-Life Test proved useful in predicting current and previous suicidal preoccupation in college students. For current suicidal preoccupation, both Purpose-in-Life Test scores and depression scores contributed to the regression equation. For previous suicidal ideation and threats, only Purpose-in-Life Test scores contributed to the regression equations.

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    Similarly, those without a meaningful sense of purpose in life report higher levels of stress, anxiety, and depression (e.g., Ryff & Singer, 2008). In fact, there is a long-established strong link between empirical measures of depression and purpose-in-life (Lester & Badro, 1982), such that measures of purpose in life can actually be used as proxy measures for depression (Dyck, 1987). Coming full circle, those with a more consolidated identity have a greater sense of purpose in life (e.g., Bronk, 2011; Burrow et al., 2010; Burrow & Hill, 2011).

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