Research Article: Self-rated functioning in family, social, and social-life domains in relation to reasons for living among young adults: a cross-sectional study
Abstract:
Suicide prevention research has increasingly emphasized protective factors in addition to risk factors. Reasons for living represent a protective construct in suicidology, reflecting beliefs and commitments that may discourage suicidal behavior. However, less is known about how self-rated functioning in family, social, and social-life domains is associated with reasons for living among young adults.
An anonymous cross-sectional online survey using non-probability convenience sampling was conducted between March and June 2025 among 546 young adults aged 18–35 years in Poland. Reasons for living were assessed using the Polish adaptation of the Reasons for Living Inventory. Life satisfaction and general self-efficacy were measured using the Satisfaction With Life Scale and General Self-Efficacy Scale. Participants rated family, social, and social-life functioning on five-point scales. Hierarchical multiple linear regression examined associations with reasons for living after accounting for selected sociodemographic and family-related factors, life satisfaction, and general self-efficacy.
Reasons for living were positively correlated with life satisfaction, general self-efficacy, and self-rated functioning in all three domains. Selected sociodemographic and family-related variables explained 8.2% of the variance. Adding life satisfaction and general self-efficacy increased explained variance by 16.0%, and adding family, social, and social-life functioning contributed a further 1.4% ( p = 0.022). The fully adjusted model explained 25.6% of the variance. Life satisfaction showed the strongest positive standardized association, followed by parenthood and general self-efficacy. Family functioning was also positively associated with reasons for living, whereas social and social-life functioning were not independently associated. In a sensitivity analysis excluding Responsibility to Family and Child-Related Concerns items, the association with family functioning was attenuated and no longer statistically significant, whereas parenthood remained positively associated with the non-family-content outcome.
In this convenience sample, reasons for living were cross-sectionally associated with psychological resources and family-related factors. The family-functioning association was sensitive to family-related RFL-48 content, whereas the parenthood association persisted after this content was excluded. Given the non-probability sampling strategy and predominance of women, the findings should not be interpreted as population estimates for Polish young adults. Causal interpretations require longitudinal research, and intervention-related implications require intervention studies.
Introduction:
Suicide prevention research has increasingly emphasized protective factors in addition to risk factors. Reasons for living represent a protective construct in suicidology, reflecting beliefs and commitments that may discourage suicidal behavior. However, less is known about how self-rated functioning in family, social, and social-life domains is associated with reasons for living among young adults.
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