Abstract

MATIAS, Joana  and  SANTOS, José Carlos. Reasons for Living Inventory: Contributions to the validation for the non-clinical Portuguese population. Revista Portuguesa de Enfermagem de Saúde Mental [online]. 2014, n.11, pp.9-14. ISSN 1647-2160.

Suicidal intention is a relevant risk factor associated with self-injurious behaviors. The assessment based on suicide risk assessment tools and on protective factors is essential to prevent suicidal behaviors. The Reasons for Living Inventory (Linehan, Goodstein, Nielsen e Chiles, 1983), designed based on a cognitive-behavioral conceptual framework, is a 48-item questionnaire divided into six subscales: Survival and Coping Beliefs, Responsibility to Family, Child-related Concerns, Fear of Suicide, Fear of Social Disapproval, and Moral Objections. This inventory is one of the few instruments whose approach is based on adaptive coping mechanisms which are usually lacking in individuals with suicidal ideation. Therefore, the emphasis is placed on reasons for living, rather than on risk factors. The objective of this work is to contribute to its validation in Portugal. After consensual validation from experts, the RFLI was applied to a sample of 505 individuals. The Portuguese version showed good internal consistency. Cronbach’s α for the global RFLI=0.94; for survival and coping beliefs=0.95; for fear of suicide and fear of social disapproval=0.90; for responsibility to family=0.82; for child-related concerns=0.99, and for moral objections=0.83. The properties of the Reasons for Living Inventory - Portuguese version confirm that it is a reliable tool to assess reasons for living.

Keywords : Suicidal ideation; Suicide; Risk factors; Psychometrics.

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