A psychometric evaluation of the life attitudes schedule-short form

Cramer, Robert J. and Nobles, Matt R. and Rooney, Emily and Rasmussen, Susan (2024) A psychometric evaluation of the life attitudes schedule-short form. Death Studies. pp. 1-10. (https://doi.org/10.1080/07481187.2023.2300065)

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Abstract

The Life Attitudes Schedule-Short Form (LAS-SF) is a measure of suicide proneness featuring various conceptual models. We tested four competing LAS-SF factor structures, as well as construct validity with mental health and suicide metrics. Community dwelling adults (N = 488) completed an online cross-sectional survey. Results supported a four factor (i.e., death-related, health-related, injury-related, and self-related subscales) LAS-SF structure with one higher order factor. Death-related, injury-related, and self-related subscales demonstrated moderate positive associations with mental health and suicidal ideation. Death-related and self-related subscales showed links with suicidal ideation, as well as suicide and depression risk (controlling for other factors). This study is important in highlighting suicide proneness theory may need to be refined. LAS-SF uses include possible risk screening in clinical settings and future focus on the psychological death aspects of the LAS-SF in prospective research. Study limitations include lack of sample diversity and cross-sectional design.

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