Coping Strategies and Suicidality: A Cross-Sectional Study From China

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Public Health
• Sociology

Background:

• Suicide remains a significant cause of mortality among young individuals globally.
• Academic and life stressors can precipitate suicidal thoughts and behaviors in university students.
• Understanding the influence of coping mechanisms is crucial for developing effective prevention strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between various coping strategies and suicidality among university students in China.
• To identify specific adaptive and maladaptive coping mechanisms linked to suicidal ideation and behavior.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional study involving 2,074 undergraduate students in China.
• Stratified-clustered-random sampling with a high response rate (94.4%).
• Utilized the Suicidal Behaviors Questionnaire-Revised Scale and the Brief COPE scale, analyzed with logistic regression.

Main Results:

• Active coping and positive reframing demonstrated a negative association with suicidality.
• Self-distraction, substance abuse, behavioral disengagement, venting, and self-blame were positively associated with suicidality.
• Associations remained significant after adjusting for sociodemographic and mental health factors.

Conclusions:

• Promoting adaptive coping strategies, such as active coping and positive reframing, may mitigate suicidal ideation and behavior in students.
• Interventions should focus on equipping young adults with effective coping skills to manage life stressors.
• Targeted support for students exhibiting maladaptive coping mechanisms is warranted to reduce suicide risk.