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Counseling Psychology and Psychotherapy
2025. Vol. 33, no. 4, 112–134
doi:10.17759/cpp.2025330406
ISSN: 2075-3470 / 2311-9446 (online)

Psychological correlates of risk and protective factors of suicidal behavior of university students: studying the experience of surviving in crisis situations

 
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Abstract

Context and relevance. The relevance of the problem of student suicide around the world and in Russia remains high. Objective. To study the individual experience of surviving in crisis situations and identify the most significant protective and risk factors of suicidal behavior of university students. Methods and materials. The analysis of data from interviews and surveys of 50 students of St. Petersburg universities seeking psychological help in connection with suicidal experiences. We used: a semi-structured interview; a Russian-adapted version of the Adverse Childhood Experience Questionnaire (ACE-IQ), and the full version of the Columbia Protocol for assessing the severity of suicide risk (C-SSRS). Data processing included software-based content analysis (ATLAS), comparative and correlation analysis (SPSS, v.26). Results. The most significant risk factors for the development of antivital tendencies (p < 0,1—0,5) were: upbringing in a single-parent family and difficult relationship with parents, experience of physical violence, a diagnosis of a mental disorder, prevalence of coping strategies with academic stresses associated with surfing the internet. Students who have attempted suicide are characterized by reduced self-esteem, blurred personal identity, and a reduced perspective on the future. Among the protective factors, the motives of fear of death and harm to loved ones, as well as motives for maintaining hope for changes for the better, turned out to be the strongest. Suicidal ideation only without active antivital actions was associated with more constructive stress coping strategies. Conclusions. The analysis of individual situational specifics of the crisis experiences revealed common correlates of the risk and protective factors of suicidal behavior related to «ideation to action» transition.

General Information

Keywords: students, suicidal behavior, suicide attempt, coping strategies, child-parent relations

Journal rubric: Empirical Researches

Article type: scientific article

DOI: https://doi.org/10.17759/cpp.2025330406

Funding. The study was supported by the Russian Science Foundation, project number 24-28-00713, https://rscf.ru/en/project/24-28-00713/.

Acknowledgements. The authors would like to thank their colleagues (university psychologists) for their assistance in attracting participants, as well as all students who agreed to participate in the study and shared their unique experiences.

Received 28.07.2025

Revised 17.10.2025

Accepted

Published

For citation: Batluk, Y.V., Krasko, E.L., Laskaya, D.A., Rozanov, V.A., Shaboltas, A.V. (2025). Psychological correlates of risk and protective factors of suicidal behavior of university students: studying the experience of surviving in crisis situations. Counseling Psychology and Psychotherapy, 33(4), 112–134. (In Russ.). https://doi.org/10.17759/cpp.2025330406

© Batluk Y.V., Krasko E.L., Laskaya D.A., Rozanov V.A., Shaboltas A.V., 2025

License: CC BY-NC 4.0

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Information About the Authors

Yulia V. Batluk, Senior Lecturer, Department of Medical Psychology and Psychophysiology, Faculty of Psychology, Saint Petersburg State University, St.Petersburg, Russian Federation, ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6343-7731, e-mail: julbut@mail.ru

Elena L. Krasko, Chief Specialist of the Psychological Clinic, Researcher, Saint Petersburg State University, St.Petersburg, Russian Federation, ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0004-9140-4162, e-mail: e.krasko@spbu.ru

Diana A. Laskaya, PhD Student, Faculty of Psychology, Saint Petersburg State University, St.Petersburg, Russian Federation, ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5014-418X, e-mail: st082164@student.spbu.ru

Vsevolod A. Rozanov, Doctor of Medicine, Professor of the Department of Health Psychology and Deviant Behavior of the Faculty of Psychology, Saint Petersburg State University, Senior Researcher, V.M. Bekhterev National Medical Research Center for Psychiatry and Neurology, St.Petersburg, Russian Federation, ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9641-7120, e-mail: v.rozanov@spbu.ru

Alla V. Shaboltas, Doctor of Psychology, Docent, Professor, Faculty of Psychology, Saint Petersburg University, Chief Specialist, V.M. Bekhterev National Medical Research Center for Psychiatry and Neurology, St.Petersburg, Russian Federation, ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1966-6924, e-mail: a.shaboltas@spbu.ru

Contribution of the authors

Julia V. Batluk — research ideas; conducting study procedures and monitoring the progress of research, data analysis, writing and formatting of the manuscript.

Elena L. Kras’ko — participants recruitment, application of mathematical, statistical and qualitative methods for data analysis; conducting research procedures; data collection and analysis.

Diana A. Laskaja — participants recruitment, application of mathematical, statistical and qualitative methods for data analysis; data collection and analysis.

Vsevolod A. Rozanov — research ideas, annotation, coordination and research planning, manuscript writing.

Alla V. Shaboltas — research ideas, general guidance and research planning, annotation, manuscript writing.

All the authors participated in the development of methodological research tools, discussed the results and agreed on the final text of the manuscript.

Conflict of interest

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Ethics statement

The study was reviewed and approved by the Ethics Committee of St.Petersburg Psychological Societe (report no 1, 2024/02/08).

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