Prediction of Tendency to Suicide based on the Difficulty of Emotional Regulation, Cognitive Flexibility, Family Flexibility and Distress Tolerance

Suicide as one of the leading causes of death worldwide is a major public health concern; however, few studies have examined the factors influencing it in families on the verge of divorce. To determine the prediction of tendency to suicide based on the difficulty of emotional regulation, cognitive flexibility, family flexibility, and distress tolerance in adolescents and young families on the eve of divorce in Isfahan.

Methods and Materials: 

The present study was a descriptive correlation that was performed in the statistical population of all adolescents and young families on the eve of divorce in Isfahan in the second six months of 2019-2020. According to the Cochranchr('39')s formula, 373 people were selected and answered Beck scale for suicide ideation, difficulties in emotion regulation scale, cognitive flexibility inventory, family flexibility questionnaire and distress tolerance scale. Data collected by Pearson correlation coefficient and stepwise regression were analyzed using SPSS-24 software.

The research findings showed that difficulty in emotion regulation a positive and significant relationship with the tendency to suicide. Cognitive flexibility, family flexibility and distress tolerance have a negative and significant relationship with tendency to suicide (P<0/01). Data from stepwise regression analysis also showed that cognitive flexibility and difficulty in emotion regulation have a combined ability to predict 17% of variance changes in tendency to suicide (P<0/01).

The results of the present study showed that difficulty in emotion regulation and cognitive flexibility play an important role in the tendency to suicide in adolescents and young families on the eve of divorce.