Structural Model of Suicide Prevention based on Cognitive Distortion and Perceived Social Support with the Mediation of Moral Identity in Adolescents

Background &

Adolescents are among the vulnerable groups against suicide, many of them have dysfunctional attitudes, cognitive errors, and inconsistent moral problems. Therefore, it is important to know the antecedents of this problem. The present study aimed to investigate the structural model of suicide prevention based on cognitive distortion and perceived social support with the mediation of moral identity in adolescents.

The current research is a theoretical research and its design was descriptive-correlation and structural equation modeling. The statistical population of the research included all ninth grade female students of Takestan city with an average age of 15 years who study in the schools of Takestan city in the academic year of 1400-1401. The sample size to test the hypotheses was determined by referring to Klein's (2015) strategy for studies that use the structural equation modeling method. That is, the minimum ratio of the sample size for each observed variable is 5 people, the ratio of 10 people for each variable is more suitable and the ratio of 20 people for each variable is considered desirable; Therefore, in the present study, using available sampling method, a sample size of 300 participants was considered. Research tools included: Revised Suicide Questionnaire (SBQ-R), Fleming et al.'s scale of perceived social support (1982), Abdullahzadeh and Salar's Cognitive Distortion Scale (2009) and Aquino and Reed's Moral Identity Questionnaire (2002).

The results of the correlation test showed that there is a positive and direct correlation between cognitive distortion and suicidal tendencies, and there is a significant negative relationship between perceived social support and moral identity and suicidal tendencies. The value of the standardized factor load for all questions is more than 0.4, and considering that all the significance numbers (CR) between the items and the relevant latent variables are more than 1.96 and their significance level is less than the error level of 0.05. is, it can be said that the validity of the measurement structures of the relevant variables is confirmed at the significance level of 0.05. The results of Cronbach's alpha coefficient are also given for all research variables and as it can be seen, the value of Cronbach's alpha coefficient of all variables is more than 0.7. Also, in the factor analysis model, the chi-square value for the degree of freedom is 1.309 and less than 3. Also, the root mean square error estimate (RMSEA) is equal to 0.032 and less than 0.08. Also, the comparative fit index (CFI), incremental fit index (IFI) and goodness of fit index (GFI) have all been calculated at a suitable level. Therefore, in general and according to the calculated indicators, it is possible to conclude the optimal fit of the model. The value of the critical statistic (CR) between the perceived social support and the cognitive distortion with the tendency to commit suicide has exceeded the borderline limit of 1.96, and the significance level of the test in this regard is equal to 0.000 and less than 0.05. Therefore, it can be stated that the existence of the relationship between perceived social support and the tendency to commit suicide is confirmed with a probability of 95%. Because the coefficient of the standard path between these two variables is positive and equal to -0.237, it can be said that with an increase of one standard deviation in the perceived social support, we will see a decrease in the tendency to commit suicide by -0.237 standard deviation. Therefore, there is a significant and inverse relationship between perceived social support and suicidal tendencies. On the other hand, the standard path coefficient between these two variables is positive and equal to 0.134, and with an increase of one standard deviation in cognitive distortion, we will see an increase in the tendency to commit suicide by 0.134 standard deviations. Therefore, it can be said that there is a significant and direct relationship between cognitive distortion and suicidal tendency. In order to investigate the mediating role of moral identity between the independent variable (social support) and the dependent variable (suicidal tendency), Baron and Kenny's test showed that in the first stage and primary model, which only considered the relationship between social support and suicidal tendency, this relationship It is significant and its path coefficient is estimated as -0.381. In the next stage, the mediating variable (moral identity) is entered into the model and is placed between the two variables of social support and suicidal tendency. The path coefficient between these two variables has decreased from -0.381 to -0.237 and is statistically significant. Therefore, the role of the moral identity variable is partial mediation and the fifth hypothesis of the research is confirmed with 95% probability and according to the collected data. Also, regarding the mediating role of moral identity in the relationship between cognitive distortion and suicidal tendency in the first stage and the initial model that only considered the relationship between cognitive distortion and suicidal tendency, this relationship was significant and its path coefficient was estimated as 0.304. In the next stage, the mediating variable (moral identity) is included in the model and is placed between the two variables of cognitive distortion and suicidal tendency. The path coefficient between these two variables has decreased from 0.304 to 0.134 and is statistically significant. Therefore, the mediating role of moral identity in the mentioned relationship was confirmed.

The results confirmed the significant relationship between perceived social support and suicide tendency on the one hand and cognitive distortion with suicide on the other hand, and moral identity also plays a mediating role in the relationship between these components. Therefore, it is suggested that the training of skills to strengthen social protection and recognize distorted thoughts, along with paying attention to a rich moral identity and in order to prevent issues related to suicide, especially among teenage students, should be considered important by the authorities of schools and the country, and should be on the agenda. They should be placed.