(PS13-26) Rugged Individualism, Stoicism, and Suicidality in Rural Populations

Rugged Individualism, Stoicism, and Suicidality in Rural Populations

Daniela A. Branson, Rachael E. Dumas, Lara E. Glenn, & Carolyn M. Pepper

University of Wyoming

Background: Rural communities tend to have the highest rates of suicide in the United States, which may be associated with rural ideologies (Hirsch & Cukrowicz, 2014). One such ideology, rugged individualism, emphasizes personal responsibility and the idea that individuals should be capable of overcoming their own challenges (Hirsch & Cukrowicz, 2014). Rural communities tend to value traits of independence, self-reliance, and stoicism (Monhatt et al., 2020). Stoicism refers to a diminished display of emotions and this trait may lead an individual to be capable of enduring high pain levels involved in self-injury (Witte et al., 2012). Rugged individualism ideology in a community may foster stoicism, whereby individuals quietly endure emotional pain and self-blame rather than seeking help. We hypothesized that stoicism predicted suicidality through the mediating role of rugged individualism.

Methods: College students from a rural state (n = 338; M_age = 20.25, 58.3 % male, 85.2% white) completed the Liverpool Stoicism Scale, Rugged Individualism Scale, and Self-Harm Behavior Questionnaire. We tested our hypothesis using a mediation model.  

Results: Our mediation model was supported and explained 3.1% of the variance in suicidality (R² = .031, F (2, 335) = 5.149, p < .001). Stoicism significantly predicted rugged individualism (path a; b = 1.663, p < .0001) and rugged individualism predicted suicidality (path b; b = 0.021, p < .001). Stoicism did not significantly predict suicidality in the model (path c’; b = -0.035, p = 0.530). The percentile bootstrap confidence interval examining the indirect effect of stoicism on suicidality through rugged individualism did not contain zero (ab = 0.036, 95% CI [0.009 – 0.072]), suggesting a full mediating effect of stoicism on suicidality through rugged individualism.

Conclusions: Our findings highlight the significant role of cultural values such as rugged individualism and stoicism in suicidality in rural communities. Clinicians working in these contexts must prioritize understanding the cultural norms and values prevalent in rural communities. By recognizing the influences of stoicism, clinicians can better understand how individuals respond and perceive mental health challenges. Integrating rural ideologies into their practice can aid clinicians in developing interventions that foster emotional education and acceptance. Through education and tailored interventions, clinicians can help bridge the gap between cultural values and mental health care, reducing the risk of suicide in rural communities.