Social Isolation and Suicidal Attitude in Young Adults

Author: Syeda Namrah Mahmood

Supervisor: Nazia Bashir

Degree: BS

Year: 2010-2014

University: Centre for Clinical Psychology, Punjab University, Lahore, Pakistan

Abstract

The aim of the present study was to examine the relationship between social isolation and suicidal attitude among young adults and to examine the gender differences on social isolation, and suicidal attitude among young adults. The hypotheses of the present study were that there would likely to be a relationship between social isolation and suicidal attitude among young adults; other hypothesis for regression and there would likely to exist a gender differences in relation to social isolation, and suicidal attitudes among young adults. For the present co relational study within group research design was used. The sample was comprised of 216 young adults among whom 109 were women and 107 were men with mean age of 21 years. The sample was selected through purposive sampling from hostels of government and private universities. The tools measuring social isolation and suicidal attitude among young adults included Social Network Index (SNI) by Berkman et al., (2003) and Attitude Towards Suicide (ATTS) by Renberg (2003), respectively. Demographic form included information about participant’s age, gender, birth order, siblings, education, home environment, relationship with family members and with peers, hostile environment, participation in extracurricular activities and satisfaction with one’s own life. Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS- 21) was used for the statistical analysis. The result showed that, there exists a significant gender difference among suicide attempters. Of all 216 participants 15 reported that they have made suicide attempts among which 3 were females while 12 were males. The results show a significant negative correlation between social integration and suicidal attitude on .01 level and social isolation negatively predicts suicidal attitude among young adults (R2=.61, F (216) =336.12). The current study presents evidence to address the chronic impact of feelings of social isolation among residents of hostels. However, future research on adolescents who experience chronic social isolation is needed. The study suggests a number of avenues for further research by focusing on causes of and solutions to social isolation.

Keywords: Social Isolation, Suicidal Attitude.

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