Document Type : Original Article
Authors
1 Department of Psychology and Counseling, Farhangian University, Tehran, Iran.
2 Department of Counseling, Faculty of Education and Psychology, Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran, Iran.
3 Department of Counseling, Faculty of Education and Psychology, Alzahra University, Tehran, Iran
Abstract
Background and Purpose: Suicide is one of the most urgent public health crises in the contemporary world, and university students appear to be more vulnerable to suicidal thoughts than the general population. The present study aimed to investigate the role of loneliness, self-esteem, and life satisfaction in predicting suicidal thoughts among university students in Tehran.
Method: This study was conducted with a descriptive-correlational design. The research population included undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral students in Iranian universities. Participants were selected using convenience sampling. Initially, 346 students completed the questionnaires, and after eliminating missing and outlier data, the final sample for analysis consisted of 259 people. The research instruments included the Beck Suicidal Thought Scale, Russell Loneliness Scale, Cooper-Smith Self-Esteem Questionnaire, and Diener Life Satisfaction Scale. Data were analyzed using Pearson's correlation coefficient and simultaneous multiple regression analysis.
Findings: The results showed that suicidal thoughts were positively and significantly related to loneliness and negatively and significantly related to self-esteem and life satisfaction (in all cases p<0.001). Also, multiple regression analysis showed that loneliness, family self-esteem and life satisfaction significantly predicted suicidal thoughts and explained a total of 27% of the variance in suicidal thoughts. Loneliness was the strongest predictor of suicidal thoughts.
Conclusion: The findings of the study indicate that loneliness, a sense of worth within the family and life satisfaction are important factors associated with suicidal thoughts in students. Therefore, attention to strengthening social relationships, family support and improving life satisfaction can be considered in the design of preventive programs and psychological interventions.
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