Psychometric characteristics of the Adult Suicidal Ideation Questionnaire in college students

There is a growing concern for identifying individuals at risk for suicidal behaviors. Suicidal ideation, that is, the thoughts and cognitions one has about suicidal behaviors and intent, may be considered a primary marker for the risk of more serious suicidal behaviors. This investigation examined the reliability and validity of the Adult Suicidal Ideation Questionnaire (ASIQ; Reynolds, in press-a), a 25-item self-report suicidal ideation measure designed for adults. Subjects were 474 college students from two Midwestern universities. Results indicated high internal consistency (r alpha = .97) and test-retest (rtt = .86) reliability of the ASIQ with college students. Significant correlations (rs = .38 to .60) were found with measures of depression, hopelessness, anxiety, and self-esteem. For the total sample, a multiple correlation of .67 was found between the ASIQ, the independent variables just noted, and history of prior suicide attempt. Factor analysis of the ASIQ produced a four-factor solution. Psychometric support for the utilization of the ASIQ in clinical and research settings is presented and discussed.