Concurrent Validity of Digital Measures of Psychological Dimensions Associated with Suicidality Using AuxiliApp

TL;DR

This study shows that slider-based questions on a mobile app can reliably measure psychological factors linked to suicide risk, similar to traditional methods.

Contribution

The study demonstrates the concurrent validity of slider-based digital measures for suicide-related psychological dimensions via a mobile app.

Findings

Slider-based items showed moderate to significant correlations with traditional scales for depression, pain, and suicidal ideation.

Lower correlations were observed for anger control and protective beliefs against suicide.

Slider-based measures are psychometrically equivalent and suitable for telehealth and digital mental health screening.

Abstract

Suicide is a major public health concern, and accurate risk assessment is essential for prevention. Slider-format questions offer a quick, intuitive, and accessible method to evaluate suicide-related dimensions. This study examines the reliability of slider-based items compared to standardized psychometric instruments when delivered via a mobile app. A total of 299 university students completed a digital self-report questionnaire using the AuxiliApp mobile platform. Participants answered validated scales assessing depression, psychological pain, suicidal ideation, anger, impulsivity, loneliness, and reasons for living, each presented in both traditional Likert and novel slider formats. Pearson correlations were used to evaluate the relationship between traditional and slider-based scores. All correlations were statistically significant (p < 0.001). Moderate correlations were found in most domains, including depression, psychological pain, suicidal ideation, loneliness, and key aspects of impulsivity and anger. Lower correlations appeared in subscales related to anger control and protective beliefs against suicide. Slider-based items demonstrated acceptable psychometric equivalence and concurrent validity compared to traditional scales. Their brevity and compatibility with mobile devices support their use in telehealth and digital mental health screening. While not a replacement for clinical evaluation, they may facilitate early detection and ongoing monitoring in at-risk populations.

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