Coping Skill as a Moderator Between Negative Life Events and Suicide Among Young People in Rural China.

Objective In the present study, we aim to test whether the approach or the avoidance coping skill can be a moderator between negative life events and suicide, and to test the deficient coping strain in the strain theory. Method This sample comprised 392 suicide cases and 416 community living controls, aged 15-34 years, from 16 rural counties in China. An established psychological autopsy method and a case-control design were used in this study. The 48-item Coping Response Inventory evaluated the degree of coping skills of the people who died by suicide. Results Results indicated that the avoidance coping skill, but not the approach coping skill, can moderate between negative life events and suicide. Conclusion The low level of the avoidance coping skill may represent a promising variable for screening for suicide risk in rural China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]