Mediating role of Depression between Fear of Negative Evaluation and Suicidal Ideation among University Students

Abstract

This study aimed to determine how depression played a mediating effect in university students' fears of being negatively evaluated and suicide ideation. This study also analyzed gender disparities in depressive suicidal thoughts, and fears of being negatively evaluated. To determine the association between the variables in the current study, a cross-sectional correlational design was adopted. G power was used to compute the sample size, and 200 individuals between the ages of 18 and 25 were chosen using the practical sampling technique. The data was gathered from various universities in Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan. The data was collected on demographic sheet, Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale—21 Items (DASS-21), Brief FNE Scale, and Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale (C-SSRS). SPSS version 21 was used to analyze the date, and the results were tested using independent t tests and the mediation correlation. The current study's findings indicate that there is no significant direct effect of Fear of Negative Evaluation (FNE) on suicidal thoughts (r=.17, P>0.5). However, the table demonstrates a substantial indirect influence (r=.13, p.0.5). This shows that depression acts as a go-between for Fear of Negative Evaluation (FNE) and suicidal ideation. Second, no significant differences in FNE, suicidal thoughts, or sadness were detected between male and female students. The study's findings highlight the position and significance of psychological elements that are related to one another. The study also suggests that health psychologists and counselors assist patients improve their resilience and empower them to tackle psychological disorders like depression and suicide ideation. The current study came to the conclusion that suicidal ideation and fear of being judged negatively are both significantly influenced by depression.