PSYCHOLOGICAL DISTRESS AND SUICIDAL IDEATION AMONG EMERGING ADULTS OF UOG

Abstract

The current study was conducted with an aim to investigate psychological distress that is conceived through depression, stress and anxiety which are serving as predictors for suicidal ideations among developing adults. Using quantitative cross- sectional research design, data were collected from 274 participants that aligned with the required the age limit of emerging adulthood from University of Gujrat using Depression, Anxiety, Stress Scale (DASSS-21) and Suicidal Behavioral Questionnaire Revised (SBQ-R). Data was analyzed using SPSS-24, results indicated a positive correlation between depression, stress, anxiety and suicidal ideation with depression having the strongest link with suicidal ideation succeeded by anxiety and stress. The linear regression analysis indicated the depression is the strongest and most significant predictor of suicidal ideation. Anxiety also showed a positively significant but was deemed to be a comparatively weak predictor of suicidal ideation. However, stress was found to be weakest predictor of suicidal ideation. This study highlights the importance of understanding psychological distress, particularly depression and its symptoms in understanding, predicting and alleviating suicidal ideation. This study also emphasizes that early identification and targeted mental health interventions can reduce the risk of suicide in emerging adulthood.