A Network Analysis of Suicidal Cognition as a Central Node Linking Depression and Prospection Bias in University...

Prospection bias (PB) plays a crucial role in the development and maintenance of depression. However, the symptom-level mechanisms linking specific depressive symptoms to distinct PB components remain unclear, limiting the precision of targeted interventions. This study employed a network analysis approach to elucidate the intricate symptom-level relationships between depression and PB in a large sample of 1162 university students (453 males and 709 females; mean age = 19.47 years, SD = 1.45). Participants completed self-report assessments of depressive symptoms and prospection bias. The network demonstrated high stability. Central symptoms within the depression-PB framework were identified as "suicidal ideation", "blurry future imagery", "lack of energy", and "catastrophic negative future thinking". Critically, "suicidal ideation", "future imaginations of self-harm/suicide", and "guilt" served as the pivotal bridge symptoms connecting depression and PB. The Network Comparison Test revealed no significant gender differences in network structure. These findings highlight that current suicidal ideation and future-oriented suicidal imagery may serve as key nodes in the network of depressive symptoms and prospection bias. The results may help inform early identification and targeted intervention among at-risk university students.