Locus of Control and Suicidal Ideation among High School Students

Abstract

Suicidal behaviour is a serious public health problem among adolescents. It is a complex phenomenon and process that may originate with suicidal thoughts and evolve over time into plans or attempts, or can more rarely be an impulsive act.  A suicidal attempt may result in injury, disability or death. As adolescents are in a transitional period between childhood and adulthood, they are more vulnerable to adverse effects from health behaviours that put them at higher risk for suicidal behaviour. The purpose of the present research was to study the Level of Locus of control and Suicidal Ideation Between Male and Female and Urban and rural High School students. The Descriptive Study Design was employed, in which 30 Male and 30 Female high School students were included. The data on Suicidal ideation was obtained by using Suicidal Ideation Scale developed by Devendra Singh Sisodia and Vibhuti Bhatnagar (2011) and Rotter’s Locus of control Scale (1966). The sample chosen were in the age group between 13-16 years.  The obtained data was analysed with the help of independent ‘t’ test. The results indicated that Significant differences were found between Male and Female High School students in Locus of control and Suicidal ideation and also Significant differences were found between urban and rural High School students in Locus of control and Suicidal ideation.