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PROJECT #5

The Effects of Suicide on full time or Non-full time College Students

Erika Richardson

Tuskegee University

SOWK 300-01

March 30, 2010

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I. Hypothesis

My research examines the effects of suicide on the years the student has been attending college and if

the respondent is a full time or non full time student. The independent variable is the year the student

is attending in college has the values of the first year, second to fourth year, and fifth year or beyond.

The dependent variable is if the student has had thoughts in the past 12 months of how they would

attempt suicide with values of yes or no. The control variable is whether the respondent is a full time or

non-full time student.

The bivariate analysis shows the influence of suicide on college students who have been attending

college. The bivariate hypothesis states students are more likely to have thoughts of suicide who have

been attending college within their second to fourth years.

The multivariate analysis shows the influence of suicidal thoughts on the year the student is attending

college and whether the student is full time or not. Full time student is the controlling variable. The

multivariate hypothesis states students who are full time and have been attending college five years or

beyond are more likely to have thoughts of suicide than those who are not full time students.
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II. Rationale

Students are more likely to have thoughts of suicide who have been attending college within their

second to fourth year. In this way, more students who are in their second to fourth year in college tend

to have thoughts of suicide. The second to fourth year in college can become stressful. Most of the time

freshmen or students in their first year in college tend not to take college seriously. Freshmen year is

known as the most carefree year of any student’s college career. The second to fourth year is when the

student realizes it’s time to get serious and graduate. Between those years students tend to realize it’s

time to get serious. Frustrations and anxiety build and become overwhelming at times. My data is to

examine if students think about suicide not if they have attempted .The many stressful situations a

student may encounter could cause the second to fourth year student to “loose” their minds briefly.

In this way, it is more popular that full time students in college who have been in school longer than 4

year or in their 5th year or beyond. For the full time student who has been attending five years or

beyond the struggle is more apparent. Not only is it frustrating to graduate after all that time, but

financial problems are also thrown in the mix. Outsources such as parents and friends may ignite the

situation worst when questions are asked like “when are you going to graduate?” Those who are not

full time, the obligation to school is not as high as it is as the full time student. The part time student has

other things to juggle in which is the reason why they are part time. However in some cases suicidal

thoughts or behavior may be the results.

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III. Results

Table 1

The Effects of thoughts of Suicide on Respondents Year Attending College (%)

Year Attending College

SUICIDE 1st year 2nd to 4th year 5th or beyond Totals

YES 1.8 3.9 .7 6.3

NO 21.8 56.8 15.1 93.7

Totals 23.6 60.7 15.7 100.0

(N) (1103) (2834) (735) (4672)

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III. Results (cont’d)

Table 2

The Effects of thoughts of Suicide on Respondents Year Attending College (%)

Controlling for Full time and Non Full time

Year Attending College

SUICIDE 1ST YEAR 2ND TO 4TH YEAR 5TH OR BEYOND Totals

FULL TIME

YES 1.8 4.6 .5 7.0

NO 22.7 59.5 10.7 93.0

Totals 24.6 64.2 11.3 100.0

(N) (780) (2037) (358) (3175)

NON-FULL TIME

YES 1.7 2.1 .9 4.8

NO 19.8 51.2 24.3 95.2

Totals 21.5 53.3 25.2 100.0

(N) (320) (795) (376) (1491)

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IV. Discussion

In the first table shows the effects of thoughts of suicide on respondent’s year attending college. 1.8

percent of respondents in their first year in college had thoughts of suicide in the past 12 months. 3.9

percent of respondents in their second to fourth year in college have had thoughts of suicide in the past

12 months. .7 percent of respondents in their fifth year or beyond have also had thoughts of suicide in

the past 12 months. 21.8 percent of respondents in their first year of college have not had thoughts of

suicide in the past 12 months. 56.8 percent of respondents in their second to fourth year in college have

not had thoughts of suicide in the past 12 months. 15.1 percent of respondents in their fifth year or

beyond in college have not had thoughts of suicide in the past 12 months. The bivariate hypothesis

states students are more likely to have thoughts of suicide who have been attending college within their

second to fourth years. The table shows more respondents who are in their second to fourth year in

college have had thoughts of suicide within the past 12 months. In this way more students within their

second to fourth year in college are more likely to have thoughts of suicide.

In the second table are the effects of thoughts of suicide on respondent’s year attending college with

full time or non-full time as the controlling group. 1.8 percent of full time respondents in their first year

of college have had thoughts of suicide within the past 12 months. 2.4 percent of full time respondents

in their second to fourth year in college have had thoughts of suicide within the past 12 months. .5

percent of full time students in their fifth year or beyond in college have had thoughts of suicide within

the past 12 months. 22.7 percent of full time respondents in their first year in college have not had

thoughts of suicide within the past 12 months. 59.5 percent of full time respondents in their first year in

college have not had thoughts of suicide within the past 12 months. 10.7 percent of full time

respondents in their fifth year in college have not had thoughts of suicide within the past 12 months.1.7

percent of non full time respondents in their first year of college have had thoughts of suicide within the
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past 12 months. 2.1 percent of non-full time respondents in their second to fourth year in college have

had thoughts of suicide within the past 12 months. .9 percent of non-full time respondents in their fifth

year or beyond in college have had thoughts of suicide within the past 12 months. 19.8 percent of non-

full time respondents in their first year in college have not had thoughts of suicide within the past 12

months. 51.2 percent of non-full time respondents in their second to fourth year in college have not had

thoughts of suicide within the past 12 months. 24.3 percent of non-full time respondents in their fifth

year or beyond in college have not had thoughts of suicide within the past 12 months. The multivariate

hypothesis states students who are full time and have been attending college five years or beyond are

more likely to have thoughts of suicide than those who are not full time students. The data from the

table proves the hypothesis wrong. The table shows that more non-full time respondents in their fifth

year or beyond in college have had thoughts of suicide in the past 12 months than full time respondents.

In this way, Non fulltime students in their fifth year or beyond tend to have thoughts of suicide.
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V. Appendix

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