Prediction of suicidal thoughts based on cognitive emotion regulation strategies, perceived social support, self-efficacy, perfectionism, and spiritual health in students at Ilam universities

Suicide is a tragic and complex public health problem that affects individuals, families, and communities. The current study aimed to predict suicidal ideation based on cognitive emotion regulation strategies, perceived social support, self-efficacy, perfectionism, and spiritual health in students at Ilam universities, Ilam, Iran.

The current study was a cross-sectional study conducted in 2021. A total of 463 working students studying in Ilam universities were selected and included in the study through the available sampling method. A questionnaire was used for data collection. To determine the relationship between the variables and suicidal thoughts, the Pearson correlation test was used, and to investigate the predictors associated with suicidal thoughts, stepwise regression analysis was performed.

The research results showed a significant negative relationship between the variables of perceived social support, self-efficacy, spiritual health, and positive emotion regulation strategies (i.e., acceptance, positive reorientation, planning, positive appraisal, and underestimation) and a significant positive relationship between perfectionism variables and negative emotion regulation strategies (i.e., self-blame, rumination, catastrophizing, and blaming others) with suicidal thoughts. The highest correlation coefficient was related to perceived social support, which was the most important predictive variable in this study (r=-0.71). Perceived social support, existential health, rumination, perfectionism, self-efficacy, self-blame, and acceptance variables were able to become significant as predictive variables in the regression equation. In total, these factors explained 66% of the variance of suicidal thoughts.

Based on the research findings, the variables of cognitive emotion regulation strategies, perceived social support, self-efficacy, perfectionism, and spiritual health may be important components and predictors of suicidal thoughts. Therefore, it is important to pay attention to these components in suicide prevention programs and treatment and counseling methods