A preliminary model of the escape theory of suicide was tested in 168
college students (52 males, 116 females), who completed self-report me
asures of self-oriented, other-oriented, and socially prescribed perfe
ctionism, negative life stress, depression, hopelessness, anxiety, rea
sons for living, and suicidal behaviors. A path analysis provided only
partial validation for the model and accounted for 26% of the varianc
e in suicidal behaviors. None of the three dimensions of perfectionism
significantly accounted for any additional variance in suicidal behav
iors above and beyond the other variables used in the study. Socially
prescribed perfectionism was only dimension of perfectionism that show
ed a statistically significant bivariate correlation with suicidal beh
aviors. The path analysis indicated that this correlation was an indir
ect effect through reasons for living. Depression was a better predict
or of suicidal behaviors than hopelessness. Perhaps one reason for the
se equivocal results was the limited amount of variability in suicidal
behaviors in this nonclinical sample.