The self-esteem conduit: Exploring mechanisms linking parenting styles to suicidal behaviors in adolescents

Suicidal behaviors are a serious public health issue. Few studies have focused on the relationship between parenting styles, self-esteem and suicide, as well as the mediating mechanism of self-esteem. Four databases were searched to identify studies that reported the correlations between parenting styles, self-esteem, and suicidal behaviors. A two-stage meta-analysis structural equality model (MASEA) was constructed to test the mediating role of self-esteem and to test the moderating effect of the countries. Overall, 51 studies were eligible. The findings demonstrated that self-esteem had an adverse connection with negative parenting (r = -0.224, 95 %CI = (-0.279, -0.168)) and positive parenting (r = 0.390, 95 %CI = (0.307, 0.472)). Non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) (r = 0.279, 95 %CI = (0.227, 0.331)) and suicidal ideation (SI) (r = 0.245, 95 %CI = (0.115, 0.375)) were connected with negative parenting. The interaction between self-esteem and SI (r = -0.458, 95 %CI = (-0.555, -0.361)), suicidal attempt (SA) (r = -0.299, 95 %CI = (-0.418, -0.180)), and NSSI (r = -0.283, 95 %CI = (-0.371, -0.196)) were inverse. Positive parenting influenced SI (β = 0.095, 95 % CI = (0.065, 0.132)). NSSI (β = 0.052, 95 %CI = (0.031, 0.078)) and SA (β = 0.067, 95 %CI = (0.037, 0.104)) through self-esteem. Meantime, negative parenting impacted on the SI (β = -0.187, 95 % CI = (-0.270, -0.125)), NSSI (β = -0.075, 95 %CI = (-0.122, -0.033)) and SA (β = -0.130, 95 %CI = (-0.208, -0.070) by self-esteem. These findings offered valuable insights for family and mental health service providers. Enhancing positive parenting skills and implementing self-esteem training were of vital importance in reducing the risk of suicidal behaviors.