Relationship between academic stress and suicidal ideation: testing for depression as a mediator using multiple...

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
• Public Health

Background:

• Academic stress is a significant concern for adolescents.
• Depression and suicidal ideation are serious mental health issues in youth.
• Understanding the interplay between these factors is crucial for effective interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine the relationship between academic stress, depression, and suicidal ideation in Asian adolescents.
• To test the mediating role of depression in the link between academic stress and suicidal ideation.
• To provide insights for school-based prevention and intervention strategies.

Main Methods:

• A quantitative study involving 1,108 Asian adolescents aged 12-18.
• Utilized Baron and Kenny's framework to test mediation.
• Employed multiple regression analyses to analyze the four-step mediation process.

Main Results:

• Academic stress was significantly related to suicidal ideation.
• Depression partially mediated the relationship between academic stress and suicidal ideation.
• The inclusion of depression reduced the magnitude of the academic stress-suicidal ideation link.

Conclusions:

• Adolescent depression plays a partial mediating role in the association between academic stress and suicidal ideation.
• Findings underscore the need for mental health support in schools to mitigate risks.
• Demonstrates the utility of regression analysis for mediation testing in psychological research.