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The Impact of Mortality Salience, Negative Emotions and Cultural Values on Suicidal Ideation in COVID-19: A Conditional Process Model

Author

Listed:
  • Feng Huang

    (Institute of Psychology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
    Department of Psychology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China)

  • Sijia Li

    (Institute of Psychology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
    Department of Psychology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China)

  • Dongqi Li

    (Institute of Psychology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
    Department of Psychology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China)

  • Meizi Yang

    (School of Child Development and Education, China Women’s University, Beijing 100101, China)

  • Huimin Ding

    (School of Education, Renmin University of China, Beijing 100034, China)

  • Yazheng Di

    (Institute of Psychology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
    Department of Psychology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China)

  • Tingshao Zhu

    (Institute of Psychology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
    Department of Psychology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China)

Abstract

As suicides incurred by the COVID-19 outbreak keep happening in many countries, researchers have raised concerns that the ongoing pandemic may lead to “a wave of suicides” in society. Suicidal ideation (SI) is a critical factor in conducting suicide intervention and also an important indicator for measuring people’s mental health. Therefore, it is vital to identify the influencing factors of suicidal ideation and its psychological mechanism during the outbreak. Based on the terror management theory, in the present study we conducted a social media big data analysis to explore the joint effects of mortality salience (MS), negative emotions (NE), and cultural values on suicidal ideation in 337 regions on the Chinese mainland. The findings showed that (1) mortality salience was a positive predictor of suicidal ideation, with negative emotions acting as a mediator; (2) individualism was a positive moderator in the first half-path of the mediation model; (3) collectivism was a negative moderator in the first half-path of the mediation model. Our findings not only expand the application of the terror management theory in suicide intervention but provide some insights into post-pandemic mental healthcare. Timely efforts are needed to provide psychological interventions and counseling on outbreak-caused negative emotions in society. Compared with people living in collectivism-prevailing regions, those living in individualism-prevailing regions may be more vulnerable to mortality salience and negative emotions and need more social attention.

Suggested Citation

  • Feng Huang & Sijia Li & Dongqi Li & Meizi Yang & Huimin Ding & Yazheng Di & Tingshao Zhu, 2022. "The Impact of Mortality Salience, Negative Emotions and Cultural Values on Suicidal Ideation in COVID-19: A Conditional Process Model," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(15), pages 1-15, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:19:y:2022:i:15:p:9200-:d:873433
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. He Li & Yujin Han & Yunyu Xiao & Xingyun Liu & Ang Li & Tingshao Zhu, 2021. "Suicidal Ideation Risk and Socio-Cultural Factors in China: A Longitudinal Study on Social Media from 2010 to 2018," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(3), pages 1-12, January.
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    1. Wei Pan & Xianbin Wang & Wenwei Zhou & Bowen Hang & Liwen Guo, 2023. "Linguistic Analysis for Identifying Depression and Subsequent Suicidal Ideation on Weibo: Machine Learning Approaches," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(3), pages 1-12, February.

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