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Psychache, Hopelessness, and Suicidal Ideation and Behaviors: A Cross-Sectional Study from China

Author

Listed:
  • Ching Sin Siau

    (Centre for Community Health Studies (ReaCH), Faculty of Health Sciences, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur 50300, Malaysia)

  • E. David Klonsky

    (Department of Psychology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada)

  • Kairi Kõlves

    (Australian Institute for Suicide Research and Prevention, World Health Organization Collaborating Centre for Research and Training in Suicide Prevention, School of Applied Psychology, Griffith University, Mount Gravatt, QLD 4222, Australia)

  • Jenny Mei Yiu Huen

    (The Hong Kong Jockey Club Centre for Suicide Research and Prevention, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China)

  • Caryn Mei Hsien Chan

    (Centre for Community Health Studies (ReaCH), Faculty of Health Sciences, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur 50300, Malaysia)

  • Muhamad Nur Fariduddin

    (Faculty of Education, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Puncak Alam 42300, Malaysia)

  • Norhayati Ibrahim

    (Centre for Healthy Ageing and Wellness (H-Care), Faculty of Health Sciences, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur 50300, Malaysia
    Institute of Islam Hadhari, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Bangi 43600, Malaysia)

  • Yee Kee Tan

    (Centre for Community Health Studies (ReaCH), Faculty of Health Sciences, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur 50300, Malaysia)

  • Cunxian Jia

    (School of Public Health, Shandong University, Jinan 250012, China)

  • Jie Zhang

    (School of Public Health, Shandong University, Jinan 250012, China
    Department of Sociology, State University of New York Buffalo State University, Buffalo, NY 14222, USA)

  • Bob Lew

    (Australian Institute for Suicide Research and Prevention, World Health Organization Collaborating Centre for Research and Training in Suicide Prevention, School of Applied Psychology, Griffith University, Mount Gravatt, QLD 4222, Australia)

Abstract

This study explored the relationship between variables emphasized in the theory’s first step of the three-step theory (3ST)—psychache, hopelessness, and their interaction—to suicide-related variables (i.e., lifetime suicidal ideation and attempt, past-year suicidal ideation, communication of suicidal thoughts, and self-reported future suicide attempt likelihood). Chinese undergraduate students ( N = 11,399; mean age = 20.69 ± 1.35) from seven provinces participated in this cross-sectional survey. They answered the Suicidal Behaviors Questionnaire-Revised, Psychache Scale, and Beck Hopelessness Scale. Bivariate and multivariate analyses were used to examine the association between psychache, hopelessness, and hopelessness × psychache interaction on the outcome variables. Bivariate analyses showed that psychache and hopelessness were correlated with suicidal ideation and behaviors. In multiple regression models, the interaction between psychache and hopelessness was significantly associated with past-year suicidal ideation and self-report chances of a future suicide attempt, p < 0.001, though effect sizes for the interaction term were small. The results are broadly consistent with the 3ST’s proposition of how the combination of pain and hopelessness is related to various suicide-related variables. The low prevalence of suicide-related communication should inform future suicide prevention measures by encouraging help-seeking. Psychache as a correlate of the self-reported likelihood of a future attempt could be further investigated.

Suggested Citation

  • Ching Sin Siau & E. David Klonsky & Kairi Kõlves & Jenny Mei Yiu Huen & Caryn Mei Hsien Chan & Muhamad Nur Fariduddin & Norhayati Ibrahim & Yee Kee Tan & Cunxian Jia & Jie Zhang & Bob Lew, 2024. "Psychache, Hopelessness, and Suicidal Ideation and Behaviors: A Cross-Sectional Study from China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 21(7), pages 1-10, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:21:y:2024:i:7:p:885-:d:1430837
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Xuan Ning & Josephine Pui-Hing Wong & Silang Huang & Yina Fu & Xiaojie Gong & Lizeng Zhang & Carla Hilario & Kenneth Po-Lun Fung & Miao Yu & Maurice Kwong-Lai Poon & Shengli Cheng & Jianguo Gao & Cun-, 2022. "Chinese University Students’ Perspectives on Help-Seeking and Mental Health Counseling," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(14), pages 1-13, July.
    2. Lina Ha & Qingning Chang & ZhiZhong Wang, 2020. "The Mediating Effect of Psychache on the Relationship Between Psychological Strains and Suicidal Behaviors Among Chinese Hui and Han Medical Students," SAGE Open, , vol. 10(3), pages 21582440209, July.
    3. Jingjing Zhao & Yanna Chi & Yanli Ju & Xiyao Liu & Jingjing Wang & Xinglai Liu & Bob Lew & Ching Sin Siau & Cunxian Jia, 2020. "Shame and Suicidal Ideation among Undergraduates in China: The Mediating Effect of Thwarted Belongingness and Perceived Burdensomeness," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(7), pages 1-14, March.
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