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The prevalence of suicidal thoughts and behaviours among college students: a meta-analysis
Open accessAbstract
Background: Adolescence and young adulthood carry risk for suicidal thoughts and behaviours (STB). An increasing subpopulation of young people consists of college students. STB prevalence estimates among college students vary widely, precluding a validated point of reference. In addition, little is known on predictors for between-study heterogeneity in STB prevalence. Methods: A systematic literature search identified 36 college student samples that were assessed for STB outcomes, representing a total of 634 662 students [median sample size = 2082 (IQR 353–5200); median response rate = 74% (IQR 37–89%)]. We used random-effects meta-analyses to obtain pooled STB prevalence estimates, and multivariate meta-regression models to identify predictors of between-study heterogeneity. Results: Pooled prevalence estimates of lifetime suicidal ideation, plans, and attempts were 22.3% [95% confidence interval (CI) 19.5–25.3%], 6.1% (95% CI 4.8–7.7%), and 3.2% (95% CI 2.2–4.5%), respectively. For 12-month prevalence, this was 10.6% (95% CI 9.1–12.3%), 3.0% (95% CI 2.1–4.0%), and 1.2% (95% CI 0.8–1.6%), respectively. Measures of heterogeneity were high for all outcomes ( I 2 = 93.2–99.9%), indicating substantial between-study heterogeneity not due to sampling error. Pooled estimates were generally higher for females, as compared with males (risk ratios in the range 1.12–1.67). Higher STB estimates were also found in samples with lower response rates, when using broad definitions of suicidality, and in samples from Asia. Conclusions: Based on the currently available evidence, STB seem to be common among college students. Future studies should: (1) incorporate refusal conversion strategies to obtain adequate response rates, and (2) use more fine-grained measures to assess suicidal ideation.
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“college students are at higher risk for experiencing both psychopathology generally and suicidality specifically (Mortier et al., 2018).”
From Using network analysis to examine connections between Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) processes, internalizing symptoms, and well-being in a sample of undergraduates (2023) · cites this paper as Mortier et al., 2018
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“many comorbid mental disorders share similar symptoms and pathological pathways (34).”
From Severe role impairment associated with mental disorders: Results of the WHO World Mental Health Surveys International College Student Project (2018) · cites this paper as [34]
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Auerbach, R. P., Collaborators, W. W.-I., Mortier, P., Bruffaerts, R., Alonso, J., Benjet, C., Cuijpers, P., Demyttenaere, K., Ebert, D. D., Green, J. G., et al. (2018) · Journal of Abnormal Psychology · doi:10.1037/abn0000362 · Cited by 2,522
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Suicidal Thoughts and Behaviors Among First-Year College Students: Results From the WMH-ICS Project
Mortier, P., Auerbach, R. P., Alonso, J., Bantjes, J., Benjet, C., Cuijpers, P., Ebert, D. D., Green, J. G., Hasking, P., Nock, M. K., et al. (2018) · Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry · doi:10.1016/j.jaac.2018.01.018 · Cited by 307
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Metadata
- Authors
- Mortier, P., Cuijpers, P., Kiekens, G., Auerbach, R. P., Demyttenaere, K., Green, J. G., Kessler, R. C., Nock, M. K., & Bruffaerts, R.
- Affiliations
- KU Leuven (BE)
- Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (NL)
- Harvard University (US)
- Boston University (US)
- Corresponding author
- Mortier, P.
- ORCID
- Venue
- Psychological Medicine
- Publisher
- Cambridge University Press (CUP)
- Published
- 2017-08-14
- Volume
- 48
- Issue
- 4
- Pages
- 554-565
- ISSN
- 0033-2917 (ISSN-L)
- 1469-8978
- OpenAlex
- W2746711211
- Cited by
- 572
- References
- 85
- Citations by year
- 2026: 76 · 2025: 100 · 2024: 79 · 2023: 71 · 2022: 68 · 2021: 56 · 2020: 68 · 2019: 33 · 2018: 20 · 2017: 1
- FWCI
- 5.12
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- green
- research.vu.nl
- Licence
- Locations
- Psychological Medicine (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- VU Research Portal (acceptedVersion, other-oa)
- Lirias (submittedVersion)
- Data Archiving and Networked Services (DANS) (submittedVersion)
- Data Archiving and Networked Services (DANS) (submittedVersion, other-oa)
- Funders
- University of Michigan
- Auburn University
- University of Texas at Austin
- University of British Columbia
- University of Maryland School of Public Health
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Suicide and Self-Harm Studies
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Psychiatry and Mental health › Mental Health Treatment and Access
- Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Homicide, Infanticide, and Child Abuse
- Keywords
- suicidal ideation, suicidal behavior, university students, prevalence, suicide attempts, suicide planning, early adulthood, gender differences, response rate
- MeSH terms
- Adolescent, Humans, Students, Suicide, Attempted, Universities, Prevalence, Young Adult, Suicidal Ideation
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