Influences of Social Integrative Factors on Perception of Suicide among University Students in Southeast Nigeria

Abstract

The study interrogated university students’ perception of suicide in a social system where self-murder is seen as a taboo yet constantly on the increase. In light of the difficulty expressed in studies on detecting risky behaviour, we focused on the influences of social factors on the perception of the normality and preventability of suicide. We administered a 47-item questionnaire to 490 students from five universities in Southeast Nigeria. Frequencies, percentages, Pearson’s bivariate correlation coefficient and multivariable binary logistic regression were used to analyze data. We found a significant positive but weak relationship between the perception of the normality of suicide and the perception of the preventability of suicide. The majority of the respondents did not show a tendency to suicide but ironically acknowledged that the high prevalence of risk factors such as depression were expected and normal. Place of residence, being seen as deeply religious, and the class of study had a significant impact on the perception of the normality and preventability of suicide. We discussed the implications of our findings on social integration among students.