Psychometric Evaluation of the Positive and Negative Suicide Ideation Inventory in Ecuadorian Population

Abstract

The Positive and Negative Suicide Ideation (PANSI) inventory is a widely used measure to assess risk and protective factors associated with suicidal ideation. Despite its use in various populations, its psychometric properties have not been evaluated in Ecuador. This study examines the reliability, factorial structure, and convergent validity of the PANSI in a sample of Ecuadorian university students. A total of 702 university students completed the PANSI, the Beck Hopelessness Scale, and the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale. Internal consistency was assessed using Cronbach’s alpha and McDonald’s omega. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was conducted to evaluate the factorial structure of the PANSI. Convergent validity was examined through Pearson correlations between PANSI subscales and external measures. Both subscales of the PANSI demonstrated excellent internal consistency (Negative Suicide Ideation: ω = 0.95; Positive Suicide Ideation: ω = 0.82). CFA supported the original 2-factor model, with adequate fit indices (RMSEA = 0.092, SRMR = 0.08, CFI = 0.99, TLI = 0.99). The Negative Suicide Ideation subscale correlated positively with hopelessness (r = .518, P < .001) and negatively with self-esteem (r = −.529, P < .001), while the Positive Suicide Ideation subscale correlated negatively with hopelessness (r = −.557, P < .001) and positively with self-esteem (r = .530, P < .001), supporting convergent validity. The findings indicate that the PANSI is a reliable and valid measure for assessing suicidal ideation in Ecuadorian university students, and arguably, Ecuadorian population. Its ability to capture both risk and protective factors highlights its utility in clinical and educational settings for suicide prevention efforts.