Psychological strains and suicidality – A path model with insomnia and stress as mediators among Chinese college graduating students

Abstract

ObjectiveBy exploring the roles and mechanisms that insomnia and psychological distress play in the relationship between the psychological strain and suicidality, this study aims to determine whether psychological stain increased the risk of suicide in Chinese graduating students. MethodsIn this cross-sectional study, about 601 final year undergraduates were recruited from two faculties (science and arts) in a comprehensive university, and asked to complete a paper–pencil survey using the 7-item Insomnia Severity Index (ISI), the Suicidal Behaviors Questionnaire-Revised (SBQ-R), the Psychological Strain Scales (PSS), and the Kessler-10(K-10). ResultsIt was found that psychological distress as felt through aspiration strain and coping strain was the main risk factor for suicidality in graduating students, with female final year undergraduates reporting greater psychological distress than male final year undergraduates. Insomnia mediated the association between psychological strain (aspiration strain and coping strain) and psychological distress, but psychological distress only partly mediated the association between psychological strain (aspiration strain and coping strain) and suicidality. ConclusionsThis study revealed that relieving psychological strain and especially aspiration and coping strain in graduating students could reduce the risks of student sleep disturbance, psychological distress, and suicide.