The effect of highstakes testing on suicidal idea

Authors: Liang Choon Wang

Publish Date: 2015/10/16

Volume: 29, Issue: 2, Pages: 345-364

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Abstract

This paper offers a novel explanation for why even highperforming individuals may have a high suicidal tendency when preferences are referencedependent Using survey data of South Korean secondary school students this paper demonstrates that the relationship between suicidal ideation and test performance is consistent with the referencedependent explanation When a student’s rank in the highstakes College Scholastic Ability Test falls below her expectation she exhibits a higher likelihood of having suicidal ideation The findings highlight the potentially adverse consequences of disappointment in highstakes testing and suggest that the risk of suicide may be significant among high achievers tooI am grateful to Birendra Rai Russell Smyth and anonymous referees for their constructive comments and suggestions that significantly improved the paper I also thank Youjin Hahn Jeff LaFrance Anmol Ratan Christis Tombazos Michael Ward and seminar participants at Monash University for helpful comments

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