Moderating influence of social support on suicidal ideation in a sample of Mexican immigrants

The present study explored social support as a moderator in the relationship between depression and suicidal ideation in a sample of 104 immigrant Mexican-American adults. Participants completed the Personal Resource Questionnaire--Part 2, the Center for Epidemiologic Studies-Depression Scale, and the Adult Suicidal Ideation Questionnaire. Ineffective social support and high depression were significantly associated with elevated suicidal ideation. Further analyses indicated a significant interaction between social support and depression in predicting suicidal ideation, thereby suggesting that social support may serve as a protective factor against suicidal ideation during the acculturative process.