OBJECTIVE To explore whether social support has a moderating effect on the relationship between negative emotions including depression anxiety stress with suicidal behaviors and to provide reference for the suicide prevention among college students.
METHODS Three universities were selected in Qinghai Ningxia and Xinjiang province and 4 893 college students were selected using cluster sampling method. The Social Support Scale Depression-Anxiety-Stress Scale DASS and Suicidal Behavior Questionnaire-Revised self-evaluation questionnaires were used to collect data. Hierarchical linear regression model was employed to explore the moderating effect of social support.
RESULTS A total of 4 893 college students completed full questionnaires and included in the final analysis. Among them 738 15.08% were under high risk of suicidal behaviors. The regression model showed that DASS score was positively associated with suicidal behavior β = 0.31 P<0.01 and social support was negatively associated with suicidal behavior β = -0.08 P<0.01 Additionally the interaction between social support and DASS negatively correlated with suicidal behavior β = -0.05 P<0.01.