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Literacy level on suicide among university students.

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Title: Literacy level on suicide among university students.
Alternate Title: Nivel de alfabetización en suicidio en estudiantes universitarios.
Authors: Rueda, Pilar1 nsa@uma.es, Bernal, Laura1, Sánchez-Álvarez, Nicolás1, Moreno-Küstner, Berta1,2
Source: Educación XX1. 2026, Vol. 29 Issue 1, p245-268. 24p.
Subject Terms: *College students, Suicidal behavior, Suicide prevention, Mental illness, Warnings
Abstract (English): Suicide is the fourth leading cause of death worldwide among people aged 15-29 years. These data show the urgent need to address this problem, and literacy is fundamental to doing so. The objective of this study is to determine the level of literacy about suicide and examine differences in literacy scores among students from different subject areas, as well as differences in literacy levels in the presence of psychological problems or suicidal behaviour in personal or family history in an incidental sample of students from the University of Malaga. An incidental sample of 443 students (364 women) was obtained and completed the Literacy of Suicide Scale, short form. It was answered before attending a lecture about suicide (attendance was voluntary). The scores obtained were compared according to the field of study and the presence or absence of a history of psychological problems and suicidal behaviour, both personally and in the family. An exploratory cross-sectional and ex post facto exploratory analysis was applied using Student's test, analysis of variance, Eta squared, and Cohen's d. Analyses performed showed that participants had a high knowledge of suicidal behaviour. By studying the dimensions that make up suicidal behaviour literacy through exploratory cross-sectional and ex post facto analysis. Differences were found in the literacy dimensions, with causes/triggers and signs being the weakest. Students with the highest literacy levels were those in the arts and humanities. Students with psychological problem histories showed higher total literacy, but no differences were found for those with or without suicidal behaviour histories. From the results obtained, it can be concluded that more emphasis should be placed on educating students about the causes and warning signs of suicidal behavior. Likewise, university suicide prevention programs should be designed to reach out to science students in particular. Knowing who to target and what aspects to teach will help practitioners and researchers to design programs that will actually have a positive impact on suicidal behavior literacy in the university population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Abstract (Spanish): El suicidio es la cuarta causa de muerte a nivel mundial entre personas de 15 a 29 años. Este dato evidencia la necesidad urgente de abordar esta problemática y para hacerlo la alfabetización es fundamental. El objetivo general de este estudio es analizar el nivel de alfabetización sobre suicidio y examinar las diferencias en las puntuaciones de alfabetización entre estudiantes de distintas áreas de conocimiento, así como las diferencias en los niveles de alfabetización en presencia de problemas psicológicos o conductas suicidas en la historia personal o familiar en estudiantes universitarios. Se obtuvo una muestra incidental compuesta por 443 estudiantes (364 mujeres) de la Universidad de Málaga (España) que completaron la Escala de Alfabetización de la Conducta Suicida en su versión reducida, que se cumplimentó antes de asistir a una jornada de sensibilización en suicidio. Las puntuaciones obtenidas se analizaron de acuerdo con el área de conocimiento de los estudiantes y a la presencia o no de antecedentes de problemas psicológicos y de conducta suicida tanto personales como familiares. Se aplicó un análisis exploratorio transversal y ex post facto, utilizando el test de Student, análisis de la varianza, Eta cuadrado y d de Cohen. Los análisis realizados mostraron que los participantes tenían un conocimiento alto sobre la conducta suicida. Al estudiar las dimensiones que componen la alfabetización de la conducta suicida se apreciaron diferencias, siendo las causas y señales de alerta o signos de la conducta suicida las más deficitarias. Los estudiantes con mejor conocimiento sobre suicidio fueron los de artes y humanidades. Los estudiantes con antecedentes de problemas psicológicos familiares o personales mostraron una mayor alfabetización, pero no se encontraron diferencias en los niveles de alfabetización entre aquellos con o sin antecedentes de conducta suicida. A partir de los resultados obtenidos podemos concluir que hay que hacer mayor énfasis en formar al estudiantado en las causas y las señales de alerta de la conducta suicida. Así mismo, los programas de prevención del suicidio en la universidad deben diseñarse para llegar especialmente a los estudiantes de ciencias. Conocer a quién hay que dirigirse y los aspectos a enseñar ayudará a los profesionales e investigadores a diseñar programas que realmente tengan un impacto positivo sobre la alfabetización en conducta suicida de la población universitaria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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Database: Education Research Complete
Description
Abstract:Suicide is the fourth leading cause of death worldwide among people aged 15-29 years. These data show the urgent need to address this problem, and literacy is fundamental to doing so. The objective of this study is to determine the level of literacy about suicide and examine differences in literacy scores among students from different subject areas, as well as differences in literacy levels in the presence of psychological problems or suicidal behaviour in personal or family history in an incidental sample of students from the University of Malaga. An incidental sample of 443 students (364 women) was obtained and completed the Literacy of Suicide Scale, short form. It was answered before attending a lecture about suicide (attendance was voluntary). The scores obtained were compared according to the field of study and the presence or absence of a history of psychological problems and suicidal behaviour, both personally and in the family. An exploratory cross-sectional and ex post facto exploratory analysis was applied using Student's test, analysis of variance, Eta squared, and Cohen's d. Analyses performed showed that participants had a high knowledge of suicidal behaviour. By studying the dimensions that make up suicidal behaviour literacy through exploratory cross-sectional and ex post facto analysis. Differences were found in the literacy dimensions, with causes/triggers and signs being the weakest. Students with the highest literacy levels were those in the arts and humanities. Students with psychological problem histories showed higher total literacy, but no differences were found for those with or without suicidal behaviour histories. From the results obtained, it can be concluded that more emphasis should be placed on educating students about the causes and warning signs of suicidal behavior. Likewise, university suicide prevention programs should be designed to reach out to science students in particular. Knowing who to target and what aspects to teach will help practitioners and researchers to design programs that will actually have a positive impact on suicidal behavior literacy in the university population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
ISSN:1139613X
DOI:10.5944/educxx1.39574