ABSTRACT

The study investigated the role of stress, personality and self blame on suicidal ideation among prison inmates. Two hundred and ninety six (296) prison inmates (males= 258, females= 38) drawn from two prison yards in Anambra State, participated in this study. Four scales were used for data collection namely; Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), Big Five Personality Inventory (BFI), Self Blame Sub Scale (SBSS) of Cognitive Emotion Regulation Questionnaire (CEMRQ) and Suicidal Ideation Scale (SIS). Results showed that stress, self blame and openness to experience significantly predicted suicidal ideation. Extraversion, neuroticism, agreeableness, age, gender and educational qualification showed no significant relationship with suicidal ideation among prison inmates. It was suggested that clinical psychologist, health care workers/administrators, counselors and psychiatrists should assess, modify and integrate openness to experience, stress and self blame as the risk factors for suicidal ideation among prison inmates while administering care to them for holistic treatment and adjustment.