The Relationship Between Psychological Pain and Suicidal Ideation in Emerging Adulthood: What Role Do Entrapment and Meaning in Life Play?

Background: Emerging adulthood is a vulnerable developmental period for suicidal ideation. Psychological pain is often associated to its occurrence, however, the factors related to the transition from psychological pain to suicidal ideation remain unclear. This study aimed to analyze the mediating capacity of entrapment and the moderating capacity of meaning in life in the relationship between psychological pain and suicidal ideation during emerging adulthood. Methods: Participants were Spanish emerging adults who completed a battery of questionnaires through LimeSurvey platform. A moderated mediation was conducted. Results: The model explained 63.8% of the variance in suicidal ideation. Entrapment mediated the relationship between psychological pain and suicidal ideation. Furthermore, at low levels of meaning in life, psychological pain was positively associated with suicidal ideation, while at high levels, the association was no longer significant. Conclusions: These findings highlight the importance of assessing psychological pain and entrapment as potential risk factors of suicidal ideation during emerging adulthood, and support the development of interventions aimed at fostering their meaning in life.