The Mediating Role of the Varieties of Inner Speech in the Relationship of Decision-Making and Stress Coping Styles With Suicidal Ideation Among High School Students

Objectives :

This study aims to assess the structural relationship of decision-making and stress coping styles with suicidal ideation among second-year high school students, mediated by varieties of inner speech. 

Methods:

 This study uses the structural equation modeling (path analysis). The study population includes all high school students in Saqqez county, Iran in 2020-2021. Of these, 423 were selected by multi-stage cluster sampling method. The Beck Scale for Suicide Thought, Scott and Bruce’s General Decision-Making Questionnaire, Lazarus and Folkman’s way of coping Questionnaire, and the varieties of inner speech questionnaire-revised  were used to collect data. Data were analyzed using path analysis in SPSS software, vesion 19.

Results:

 The results showed that 22% of the variance in suicidal ideation was predicted by independent variables (F=9.15; P≤0.01; R2=0.22). The results of regression analysis showed that among the decision-making styles, dependent (r=0.150, P≤0.01), avoidant (r=0.289, P≤0.01), and spontaneous (r=0.259, P≤0.01) styles had a direct relationship with suicidal ideation, while the rational style (r=-0.151, P≤0.01) had an indirect relationship. Among the stress coping styles, the confrontative (r=0.189, P≤0.01) and escape-avoidance (r=0.449, P≤0.01) styles had a direct relationship with suicidal ideation, while the problem-based styles of re-appraisal (r=-0.178, P≤0.01) and social support (r=-0.131, P≤0.05) had an indirect relationship. Among the varieties of inner speech, the presence of other people (r=0.238, P≤0.001) and evaluative/critical (r=0.247, P≤0.001) had a direct relationship with suicidal ideation, while  positive/regulatory (r=-0.165, P≤0.01) had an indirect relationship.

Conclusion:

 The relationship of decision-making and stress coping styles with suicidal ideation among high school students can be mediated by inner speech styles. The present study has important implications for the study and prevention of suicide. Psychologists and clinicians should teach decision-making and stress-coping techniques to adolescents and consider their inner speech varieties.