Negative Mood Regulation Expectancies, Affect and Suicidal Ideation: A Moderated Mediation Analysis

Better understanding of the aetiology of suicidal ideation, including modifiable and protective factors, can enhance preventive strategies. Negative mood regulation expectancies ('NMRE'; beliefs in one's ability to alleviate negative mood) are associated with suicidal ideation and negative affect but little is known about the underlying mechanisms of these associations. We conducted secondary analyses of cross-sectional data from 1546 adults (69.8% female; Mean age = 34 years; 92% White) recruited from the community in Scotland, 32% of whom reported a lifetime history of suicidal ideation and 8% a lifetime suicide attempt. Analysis aimed to understand whether NMRE are associated with current suicidal ideation and would buffer the association of stress on current suicidal ideation and depressive symptoms. Relevant measures included in this study were self-reported demographics, stress, NMRE, depressive symptoms and current suicidal ideation. A cross-sectional moderated mediation model indicated that depressive symptoms mediated the relationship between stress and suicidal ideation and that NMRE significantly moderated this relationship. Specifically, the indirect relationship between stress and suicidal ideation via depressive symptoms was significant at all levels of NMRE tested, although the strength of association declined as NMRE increased (low NMRE: B = 0.28, 95% CI [0.22, 0.35], moderate NMRE: B = 0.21, 95% CI [0.16, 0.25], high NMRE: B = 0.14, 95% CI [0.10, 0.18]). Stronger beliefs in one's expectations to regulate negative mood may therefore buffer against the effects of perceived stress on suicidal ideation directly, and indirectly by mitigating the effect of stress on depressive symptoms.