Differentiating Between Depression, Hopelessness, and Psychache in University Undergraduates

The overlap between depression, hopelessness, and psychache constructs was investigated using 587 undergraduates. Analyses indicated three correlated dimensions; among these, psychache accounts for more variance in depression and hopelessness than these latter variables account for in psychache. All constructs demonstrated convergent validity, but psychache was associated with the widest range of suicide criteria. These findings support that psychache is a leading variable associated with suicide risk.