OBJECTIVETo evaluate the effects of personality-related health risk factors on suicidal ideation among medical students.

METHODS1204 medical students at first grade were selected in Beijing, using random cluster sampling method. Data were obtained through health risk behaviors questionnaire, personality diagnostic questionnaire-4 (PDQ-4) and were analyzed by logistic regression method.

RESULTSThere were 12 risk factors selected from single factor analysis, including physical fight, physical abuse, physically forced to have sexual intercourse, sexual risk behaviors, tobacco and alcohol use behaviors, loneliness, bad mood, insomnia, feeling hopeless, higher PDQ-4 score and internet abuse behaviors. Data from Unconditional logistic regression showed that the main risk factors of suicide ideation were insomnia (OR = 4.98), physical abuse (OR = 4.43), sexual risk behaviors (OR = 2.63), bad mood (OR = 2.32), feeling hopeless (OR = 1.98), higher PDQ-4 score (OR = 1.09) in male students; while fighting (OR = 7.10), loneliness (OR = 4.42), physically forced to have sexual intercourse (OR = 4.19), internet abuse behaviors( OR = 1.39) in female students.

CONCLUSIONSuicidal ideation was associated with various factors, with significant gender difference.