Psychometric evaluation of the Reasons for Living Inventory.

This study examined the factor structure and psychometric properties of the Reasons for Living Inventory (RFL; Linehan, Goodstein, Nielsen, & Chiles, 1983) in a sample of college students with a range of suicidal ideation and behaviors. An exploratory factor analysis of the 48-item RFL extracted 6 factors, similar to those described by Linehan et al. (1983). All coefficients alpha and item-subscale correlations were adequate. Additional nonclinical normative data are presented. Multivariate analysis of variance identified 3 significant discriminant functions for group separation. Correlational analyses provided information about the relationships between the RFL and other self-report measures of suicide risk and general psychopathology. Three RFL subscales were useful in predicting suicide risk and general psychopathology