Differences in Reasons for Living in College Methamphetamine Users and Non-Users

Project Innovation, Inc. P.O. Box 8508 Spring Hill Station, Mobile, AL 36689-0508. Tel: 251-343-1878; Fax: 251-343-1878; Web site: http://www.projectinnovation.biz/csj.html

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5

Correlation; Substance Abuse; Suicide; Drug Abuse; College Students; Student Attitudes; Questionnaires; Measures (Individuals); Statistical Analysis; Scores; Rural Areas; Health Services; Comparative Analysis; Likert Scales

0146-3934

A number of studies suggest an association between substance use and suicidal behavior. However, relatively few studies have examined reasons for living, adaptive beliefs that prevent one from committing suicide, in substance using populations. The current study examines reasons for living and methamphetamine use in 240 college students. Participants completed a demographics and substance use questionnaire, a suicide questionnaire and the expanded Reasons for Living Inventory. It was hypothesized that methamphetamine users would indicate suicidal ideation more often than non-users, and that methamphetamine users would score lower overall on the Reasons for Living Inventory. A two (methamphetamine use) X two (ideator status) ANOVA was used to analyze differences in total Reasons for Living scores. Individuals who reported methamphetamine use (n[underlined] = 9) did not reveal lower scores when compared to individuals who reported that they had never used methamphetamine, F(1,239) = 0.29, p[underlined] > 0.05. This is most likely due to the low number of participants who reported methamphetamine use. Understanding an association between reasons for living and use of methamphetamine as well as other substances could be useful in improving campus and rural mental healthcare.

As Provided

9

2016

EJ1112107