CONFIRMATORY FACTOR-ANALYSIS OF THE MULTI-ATTITUDE SUICIDE TENDENCY SCALE

This paper reports an examination of the factor structure of Orbach's Multi-Attitude Suicide Tendency Scale (MAST) utilizing confirmatory fa ctor analytic techniques. Participants were 215 undergraduate students ranging in age from 18 to 20 who completed the MAST the Reynolds Adol escent Depression Scale, the Suicide Ideation Questionnaire, and a sel f-harmful behavior scale. Support was found for the original factor st ructure, reliability, and validity of the MAST. A correlated model fit the data significantly better than an uncorrelated model. The results of this study indicate that the MAST is a valid and reliable measure appropriate for use with college-aged individuals for research purpose s. Because the correlated model fit the data better than the uncorrela ted, we suggest that future studies should attempt to replicate this f inding, which would lead to a reexamination of the theory which underl ies the MAST.