Mediating the effects of depression in the relationship between university students' attitude toward suicide, frustrated interpersonal needs, and non-suicidal self-injury during the COVID-19 pandemic

Abstract

Objective: The study aimed to examine the relationship on attitudes toward suicide, frustrated interpersonal needs, and non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) of the university students.

Methods: The participants included 175 university students. Data were analyzed using the SPSS PROCESS macro (Model 4).

Results: Depression showed a fully mediating effect on the relationship between one's attitude toward suicide and NSSI behaviors. Furthermore, depression showed a full mediating impact on the relationship between frustrated interpersonal needs and NSSI behaviors.

Conclusions: These findings indicate that suicidal attitudes and frustrated interpersonal needs should be considered significant factors for developing NSSI preventions and intervention among university students.

Keywords: Attitude toward suicide; Depression; Non-suicidal self-injury; Students.