Japanese University Students’ Difficulty in Living and its Association with Suicidal Ideation

Abstract In this study, we investigated (1) Japanese university students’ actual “difficulty in living” and (2) its association with suicidal ideation. The Difficulty in Living Questionnaire was administered to 547 Japanese university students. Results revealed that 37.5% of the students felt difficulty in living, and 21.0% had ongoing suicidal ideation. An exploratory factor analysis resulted in a three-factor model, and multiple regression analysis showed that factors “external self-insufficiency” and “feeling of emptiness” significantly predicted suicidal ideation. To prevent young Japanese adults from committing suicide, increasing their self-affirmation and feelings of value among other people is crucial.