Measuring Chinese Psychological Traits and Social Support With Western Developed Instruments in Psychological Autopsy Studies

OBJECTIVE: Suicide is the fifth leading cause of death in China and the leading cause of death among adults aged 15 to 34 years. Thus, it is important to identify psychometrically sound instruments that can be successfully used to assess risk and protective factors for suicide in Chinese populations. METHOD: Using the psychological autopsy method, we explored the possibility of applying 4 psychological scales (Dickman Impulsivity Instrument, State-Trait Anxiety Inventory Form Y, Beck Hopelessness Scale, Duke Social Support Index) developed and commonly used in the West to Chinese culture. Sixteen counties from three provinces in China were selected as sampling sites in which 392 suicide cases and 416 community living controls aged 15 to 34 years were obtained. RESULTS: Significant differences were found between the suicide victims and living controls on all four measures and their respective subscales indicating that the instruments are useful tools in identifying suicidal individuals through proxy data in rural China. CONCLUSIONS: These findings may have important implications for the development and enhancement of more effective suicide prevention strategies in China.