Effects of self-differentiation, social support and social adaption on suicidal ideation in college students

Abstract

Objective To explore the effects of self-differentiation, social support, social adaptation on suicidal ideation. Methods A simplified cluster sampling method, involving the random selection of 3097 college students in 23 departments, was used to estimate the scores of Chinese version of Self Differentiation Inventory for university student(SDI), Social Support Rating Scale(SSRC), College Student Adaptability Scale (CSAS) and Adult Suicidal Ideation Questionnaire(ASIQ). The independent-samples t-test, Pearson correlation coefficients and stepwise regression analyses were used as statistical analysis techniques. Results The correlation coefficients were negatively significant between suicidal ideation and self-differentiation, social support and social adaptation(r=-0.24, -0.17, -0.29, P<0.001). Social adaptation showed the strongest predictability for suicidal ideation (β=-0.19, P<0.001), followed by self-differentiation (β=-0.13, P<0.001), social support (β=-0.08, P<0.001). Independent samples t-test showed that college students with suicidal ideation showed a significant reduction in interpersonal adaptation, social support, self-differentiation compared to those without suicidal ideation. Conclusion Self-differentiation level, social support and social adaptability may be effective predictors for suicidal ideation among college students. Future intervention programs may focus on enhancing the interpersonal skills of college students to reduce prevalence of suicidal behavior. Key words: Self-differentiation; Social support; Social adaptation; Suicidal ideation; College student