Counselors’ Spirituality, Attitudes Toward Suicide, and Self-Efficacy in Conducting Suicide Risk Assessment

Abstract

The present study aimed to explore the relationship between perceived spiritual support and counselor self-efficacy in conducting suicide risk assessment, and the moderating effects of attitudes about suicide on this relationship. Based on existing theory and empirical evidence, perceived spiritual support was hypothesized to have a positive predictive relationship with counselor self-efficacy in performing suicide risk assessment; further, four different constructs pertaining to attitudes toward suicide were also hypothesized to moderate the strength and direction of this relationship. A sample of Master’s level clinicians and advanced standing Master’s graduate students (N=132) completed on online survey containing instruments measuring perceived spiritual support (predictor), counselor self-efficacy in suicide risk assessment (dependent variable), and four constructs within attitudes toward suicide (moderators), including avoidance of communication, suicide as common, suicide as acceptable, and preventability of suicide. Multiple moderated regression analyses were performed using SPSS 26.0. Different than hypothesized, three of the four attitudes measured (common, acceptable, and preventable) did not significantly moderate the relationship between the predictor and outcome. However, as estimated, higher levels of perceived spiritual support predicted increased counselor self-efficacy scores. Further, avoidance of communication attitudes were found to weaken this predictive relationship. Limitations and implications for future research and practice are discussed