Japanese young adults' attitudes toward suicide and its influencing factors

Hisashi Otsuka; Sachiko Anamizu; Shoko Fujiwara; Risa Ito; Mariko Enomoto; Mayumi Furukawa; Akira Takano

doi:10.1016/j.ajp.2019.10.011

Japanese young adults' attitudes toward suicide and its influencing factors

Asian J Psychiatr. 2020 Jan:47:101831. doi: 10.1016/j.ajp.2019.10.011. Epub 2019 Oct 14.

Authors

Hisashi Otsuka¹, Sachiko Anamizu², Shoko Fujiwara³, Risa Ito³, Mariko Enomoto³, Mayumi Furukawa³, Akira Takano³

Affiliations

¹ The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8654, Japan. Electronic address: otsuka.hisashi@mail.u-tokyo.ac.jp.
² International University of Health and Welfare, Japan.
³ The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8654, Japan.

PMID: 31677397
DOI: 10.1016/j.ajp.2019.10.011

Abstract

This study investigated young Japanese adults' attitudes toward suicide and factors affecting them. Results revealed that 28.78% of respondents had serious suicidal ideation history; 18.53% knew suicidal others; and 15.29% took suicide-prevention training. A t-test showed that respondents' "Right to suicide" and "Common occurrence" scores were higher with suicidal ideation history, but "Unjustified behavior" was lower than in those without history. Results indicated that certain young adults were unsupportive by being permissive of suicide due to their suicidal ideation or becoming bystanders due to inexperience. For young Japanese adults, enhancing preventive education to alter permissive/bystander attitudes is crucial.

Keywords: ATTS; Attitude; Ideation; Japan; Suicide; Young adults.

MeSH terms

Adolescent
Adult
Attitude to Death / ethnology*
Female
Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice / ethnology*
Humans
Japan / ethnology
Male
Suicidal Ideation
Suicide / ethnology*
Young Adult