Psychometric Properties of the Kuwaiti's version of Beck Scale for Suicide Ideation: Study on a sample of Kuwait University Undergraduates

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine psychometric properties of the Arabic version of Beck Suicidal Ideation Scale )BSS( in Kuwait. The study was applied on a sample of undergraduates )585( from Kuwait University to assess the reliability, validity, gender differences, and correlation between suicidal ideation and some personality variables as well as a clinical sample of )20( patients with depression disorder. The results revealed a satisfactory level of the BSS psychometric properties. The results also showed that the scale alpha cronbach coefficients ranged between 0.89 and 0.94 and test-retest coefficient was 0.79. The construct validity of the scale was also examined through multiple Methods: explanatory factor, confirmatory factor analysis, convergent, divergent validity and discriminate validity. The explanatory and confirmatory factors analysis of BSS extracts three factors. The results also indicated positive correlation between Suicidal Ideation with depression and hopelessness. A significant gender difference was reported in which females scored higher than males in suicidal ideation. The potential usefulness of the Beck Suicidal Ideation Scale was discussed