Abstract
Suicide is a leading cause of death among university students. While suicide theory can explain variance in suicidal thoughts and behaviors, there is limited evaluation among university students and in specific contexts. This study tested the Three Step Theory (3ST) of suicide among university students in Aotearoa New Zealand. A sample of 361 university students aged 17–51 (mean 19.83) completed an online survey. Pain, hopelessness, and the combination of the two were associated with suicidal ideation. Connectedness buffered the relationship of pain and hopelessness for suicidal ideation overall, but not among individuals experiencing high pain and high hopelessness. Practical suicide capability differentiated those who had previously only thought about suicide and those who had previously attempted suicide. These findings support Step One and partially support Steps Two and Three of the 3ST. We consider how these findings relate to suicide prevention strategies among university students.