Exploring suicide ideation in university students: sleep quality, social media, self-esteem, and barriers to seeking psychological help

Abstract

The purpose of the current study is to analyze how variations in suicidal ideation scores can relate to sleep quality, social media consumption, self-esteem, and perceived barriers to seeking psychological help in a sample of university students in Honduras. A quantitative cross-sectional design was used. Self-reported data was collected from a non-random sample of 910 university students in Honduras; their average age was 24.03 years (SD=6.05). Most respondents were women (67%) with men accounting for 33% of the sample. Measurements included item 9 of the Patient Health Questionnaire-9, the Single-Item Sleep Quality Scale, Rosenberg’s Self-Esteem Scale, Barriers to Seeking Psychological Help Scale for College Students, and a self-reported questionnaire on social media. In response to the query, “Over the past two weeks, how frequently have you experienced thoughts that you would be better off dead or of hurting yourself?” 54% (n=495) of participants indicated “not at all” 18% (n=168) reported “several days” 14% (n=129) responded “more than half of the days” and 13% (n=118) stated “nearly every day”. The results from the ordinal logistic regression model indicate that sleep quality and self-esteem serve as protective factors associated with decreased suicide ideation. At the same time, a higher number of social media platforms used per week and perceived barriers to seeking psychological help increase suicide ideation. Altogether, these variables explained 19% of the variance in suicidal ideation scores. Suicidal ideation is highly prevalent among the sampled university students.

Seeking support or avoiding it? A qualitative study of professional psychological help perceptions among university students in Honduras

“…The research took place within the broader context of a developing nation facing significant structural barriers to mental health care, including stigma, limited access to services, and economic hardship. UNAH students often navigate high academic demands while contending with sociocultural pressures discouraging help-seeking, particularly among men ( Landa-Blanco et al, 2024a ; Landa-Blanco et al, 2024b ; Landa-Blanco et al, 2024c ; Landa-Blanco and Mejía Sánchez, 2025 ). The university setting was chosen due to its diverse student population and because it represents a critical context in which mental health challenges are both prevalent and insufficiently addressed.…”

“…University students face a range of academic, social, and economic pressures, and their mental health needs may go unmet due to cultural, logistical, or financial barriers. A study conducted among students at the National Autonomous University of Honduras (UNAH) revealed that poor sleep quality and low self-esteem are associated with greater barriers to seeking psychological help ( Landa-Blanco et al, 2024b ).…”

Understanding Internalized Stigma’s Role in Sex-Specific Suicidal Ideation among Individuals with Bipolar Disorder

“…These psychological effects significantly elevate the risk of suicidal ideation and self-harming behaviors [19]. Studies have demonstrated that individuals perceiving higher levels of stigma are more prone to experiencing suicidal ideation and engaging in self-harming behaviors [13,[20][21][22]. Previous research has suggested that women with bipolar disorder may experience and internalize stigma differently from men, potentially influencing their risk of suicide [17,23].…”