ABSTRACT
Objective:To assess the relationship of suicide knowledge and attitudes toward suicide to self-esteem among village physicians.Methods:A cross-sectional study was implemented in Zoucheng City of Shandong province.Non-probability sampling was conducted to select participants.A self-made questionnaire and the Self-esteem Scale (SES) were used.The knowledge of suicide and attitudes toward suicide were measured with the General Social Survey (GSS) for suicidal attitudes,the Suicide Attitude Questionnaire (QSA) for nature of suicidal behavior and the Scale of Public Attitudes about Suicide (SPAS) for suicide knowledge,prevention of suicide,social importance of suicide and positive attitude to suicide.Results:The scores of subscales for nature of suicidal behavior,social importance of suicide,preventability of suicide and positive attitudes toward suicide were 2.7,27,60,and 67.Mean score of the SES was 31.Regression analysis revealed the correlations between the scores of attitudes for the approvals of suicide,prevention of suicide subscale and social importance of suicide subscale and Self-esteem Scale.The village physicians with higher SES score were more likely to disapprove suicide and tended to believe that suicide was an important social problem and preventable.Conclusion:Self-esteem of village physicians could be related to the attitudes toward suicide for the approvals of suicide,and to its social importance and prevention of suicide.