The Relationship Between Attitudes Toward Suicide and Suicidal Ideation and Attempts Among Chinese College Students: The Mediating Role of Depression

Attitudes toward suicide are complex and multifaceted. Their predictive roles and how they interact with mental health in suicidal ideation and suicide attempts are not well understood. Elaborating on attitudes toward suicide can help contribute to suicide prevention. The current study examined whether and how attitudes toward suicide and depression levels are involved in suicidal ideation and suicide attempts among college students. A cross-sectional survey was administered to 1,427 Chinese college students (61.32% females; mean age, 22.42 years), of whom 570 reported suicidal ideation. Participants completed questionnaires to assess their endorsed attitude toward suicide, stigmatized attitude toward suicide, self-stigma toward suicide, depression, suicidal ideation, and suicide attempts. Structural equation modeling revealed that the associations between the three types of attitudes, i.e., endorsed attitude, stigmatized attitude, and self-stigma, and suicidal ideation and suicide attempts were fully or partially mediated by depression. The results suggested that attitudes toward suicide significantly influence suicidal behaviors through depression levels and future suicide prevention efforts should consider these influences.