Cognitive factors, engagement in sport, and suicide ideation

Abstract

The aim of the present study was two-fold: (1) to identify cognitive vulnerabilities to suicide ideation, and (2) to examine the protective role of active engagement in sport in the development of suicide ideation. In a prospective design, 102 male military recruits were initially assessed at the Army School (Phase 1) and re-tested three months later (Phase 2). The results of a hierarchical logistic regression analysis revealed that scores on the Automatic Thoughts Questionnaire (ATQ-30), but not the Dysfunctional Attitude Scale (DAS-A), predicted presence of suicide ideation three months later. Military recruits that were actively engaged in sport activities at the Army School exhibited less suicide ideation at posttest. The findings suggest a positive association between engagement in physical activity, decrease of frequency of negative automatic thoughts, and suicidal thoughts.