The Relationship Between Chinese Personality And Completed Suicide In Rural: A Case-control Study With The Psychological Autopsy Method

Background: Suicide has already become an important public health problem in the global, Suicide has been ranked No.5 in the cause of death in China. The study shows that personality is an important risk factor to lead to suicidal behavior. There are minority study about relationship between suicidal behavior and personality characteristics at domestic and abroad. They are based on the Western scale of personality and more researches are about personality on the suicide ideation and attempted suicide. There has not the reports to research personality of completed suicide using psy- chological autopsy by measurement instrument of personality by Chinese localization.Objective: In this study, we investigate the personality of suicide in rural of Zhuanghe City, Liaoning Province. We interview two informants of completed suicide groups, two informants of control groups and informants themselves face to face using a semi-structured questionnaire. The scale scores are compared from the each dimensions of personality between completed suicide groups and control groups. This study aim to research relationship between the personality and the suicide and provide a theo- retical basis for suicide prevention.Methods: This study selected completed suicide as the target person of suicide group, They were committed suicide from June 1, 2006 to June 30, 2008 in rural of Zhuanghe City, Liaoning Province. At the same time, According to the ratio of 1:1, we randomly selected the target person of control group. Sucide group and control group were matched for gender and age (士5 years old), and residence. Two informants were interviewed for each case including controls themselves. Finally, The subjects were 109 cases of completed suicide and 109 living controls in this study. The total number of interviews is 545(109×5).Result: (1) In single-factor analysis, There was a significant difference between suicide group and control group in rural in seven dimensions and 15 small factors of personality. It includes: extraversion (active, gregarious, optimistic), good (altruism, honesty), style (strict, steady), competence (determination, tenacity, agility), emotional (patience), interpersonal (width, enthusiasm), the attitude towards (self-confidence, indifferent). (2)In single-factor analysis, There was a significant difference between group of male suicide and control group in rural in seven dimensions and 15 small factors of personality. It includes: extraversion (active, gregarious, optimistic), good (altruism, honesty), style (strict, steady), competence (determination, tenacity, agility), emotional(patience), interpersonal(width, enthusiasm), the attitude towards (self-confidence, indifferent).(3)In single-factor analysis, There was a significant difference between group of female sucide and control group in rural in seven dimensions and 15 small factors of personality. It includes: extraversion (active, gregarious, optimistic), good (altruism, honesty), style (strict, self-control, steady), competence (tenacity, agility), emotional (patience), interpersonal (width, enthusiasm), the attitude towards (self-confidence, indifferent). (4) In Multi-factor analysis of male suicide , There were three factors finally enter the Logistic regression model, They were extraversion, style, competence; In Multi-factor analysis of female suicide, There were three factors finally enter the Logistic regression model, They are extraversion, good, competence.Conclusion: (1) There is a closely relations between completed suicide in rural and the personality. The personality characteristics of completed suicide in rural tend to passive, depressed, fastidious, back, impatient, self-centered. (2) The personality characteristics of affecting male suicide in rural are extraversion, style, competenceas. Male in rural whose personality characteristics of taciturn and difficult to close, negative; unrealistic, impulse; determination, lack of willpower; to avoid the difficulties tend to sucide. (3) The personality characteristics of affecting female suicide in rural are extraversion, good, competence. Female in rural whose personality characteristics of taciturn and difficult to close, negative; irritability, fastidious, hesitant, lack of willpower; to avoid the difficulties tend to sucide.