Psychological strain and suicidal ideation in young university students during Covid-19 outbreak: the mediating roles of rumination and depression

Abstract

The link between psychological strain and suicidal ideation is well embedded in literature, however, the underlying mechanism is rarely explored. Therefore, this study aimed to examine the relationship between psychological strain, suicidal ideation, rumination, and depression among Pakistani young adults during the Covid-19 outbreak. In addition, it will also try to determine the mediating role of ruminative subtypes and depression in the relationship between psychological strain and suicidal ideation. The sample consists of 400 university students (83 males and 289 females) with the age range from 18 to 30 years (M = 22.25, SD = 2.40). Psychological strain scale, Suicidal Ideation Scale, Beck Depression Inventory, and Ruminative Response Scale were administered to the participants. Results indicated a significant and positive association between the study variables. Psychological strain positively influenced suicidal ideation both directly, and indirectly via brooding and depression. Both variables were found to be serially mediated by the brooding subtype of rumination and depression and not with the reflective subtype. Strain theory of suicide and response style theory also postulated important insights regarding the association of these variables in young adults, among which, strain is serially related to first brooding and then depression, which is eventually related to suicidal ideation. The present study makes a significant contribution to the literature by providing a unique conceptual and theoretical framework to identify suicide at the ideation level before it proceeds to behavior during this unprecedented time of the pandemic outbreak.

Cognitive Fusion, Ruminative Response Style and Depressive Spectrum Symptoms in a Sample of University Students

“…As far as we know, few studies explored the link between such psychological dimensions and depression in US, hypothesizing a specific role of ruminative response as a potential mediator in this path [ 29 ]. A recent study [ 11 ] considered CF among the variables influencing subjective well-being in a sample of university students; another study validated the European Portuguese version of the acceptance and action questionnaire for university students, exploring the context-specific psychological inflexibility in two different samples of university students [ 38 ].…”

“…High rates of psychological distress (and even of suicidal ideation) were described among university students who experienced increased levels of stress, anxiety and depression [ 25 , 26 , 27 ]. Several factors were considered as related to depressive signs and symptoms, such as the academic workload [ 28 ], performance pressure [ 29 ] and a pervasive sense of uncertainty regarding future career prospects [ 30 ]. Yet, less attention has been paid to the specific psychological mechanisms underlying depressive symptoms, such as cognitive fusion (CF) and ruminative response (RR) [ 31 ].…”