DIMENSIONS OF PERFECTIONISM AND SUICIDE IDEATION

Two studies were conducted to examine the relation between dimensions of perfectionism and suicide ideation: whether perfectionism is import ant in suicide ideation when considered in the context of other predic tors of suicide (i.e., depression, hopelessness), and whether perfecti onism moderates the association between life stress and suicide ideati on. Samples of 91 psychiatric patients (Study 1) and 160 college stude nts (Study 2) completed the Multidimensional Perfectionism Scale, the Hopelessness Scale, the Beck Depression Inventory, and the Scale For S uicide Ideation. The subjects in Study 2 also completed a measure of n egative life stress. Overall, the results confirmed that self-oriented and socially prescribed perfectionism are associated with greater sui cide ideation. Moreover, these two perfectionism dimensions contribute d uniquely to the discrimination of suicide groups and both moderated the link between life stress and suicide ideation. The findings are di scussed in terms of their practical and theoretical implications.