Degree

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Department

Psychology

Document Type

Dissertation

Abstract

Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST) is the most widely used gatekeeper training (McAuliffe & Perry, 2007) and the literature examining its effects shows strong support for self-reported changes in attitudes and knowledge regarding suicide, and confidence to intervene with a person with thoughts of suicide (Gould et al., 2013; Shannonhouse et al., 2017a; Shannonhouse et al., 2017b; Shannonhouse et al., 2019). However, no research currently exists that investigates whether individuals trained in ASIST can provide the suicide-specific intervention skills post-training. Thus, the current study sought to extend the current literature by broadly investigating the following aims. Study aims investigated (1) whether self-reported confidence in knowledge and preparedness to intervene would remain relatively unchanged while attitudes regarding suicide, behavioral intention to use skills, and ASIST-specific knowledge would decrease from post-training to 6-to-8-week follow-up; (2) the percentage of participants that demonstrated below adequate adherence, competence, and overall fidelity to the ASIST model at 6-to-8-weeks post-training; (3a) whether higher scores in confidence in knowledge, preparedness, attitudes, behavioral intention, and ASIST-specific knowledge at follow-up would be significantly correlated with higher levels of adherence and competence; and (3b) whether greater level of change in attitudes, confidence in knowledge, preparedness, behavioral intention and ASIST-specific knowledge from post-training to follow-up would be significantly correlated with lower levels of adherence and competence. Participants were recruited from LivingWorks hosted ASIST workshops immediately post-training. Results indicated that (1) all gatekeeper outcomes (e.g., confidence in knowledge, preparedness, attitudes, behavioral intention, and ASIST-specific knowledge) were retained at follow-up, (2) slightly over half (55%) of participants demonstrated fidelity to ASIST, and (3) gatekeeper outcomes were generally unrelated to fidelity to ASIST. Implications discussed include the importance of retaining important gatekeeper outcomes, recommendations for improving fidelity, and future directions of research.

Date

6-23-2025

Committee Chair

Raymond P. Tucker

DOI

10.31390/gradschool_dissertations.6823

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