Longitudinal associations between multiple mental health problems and suicidal ideation among university students during the COVID-19 pandemic

May 21, 2022Journal of affective disorders

How different mental health problems relate to thoughts of suicide over time in university students during the COVID-19 pandemic

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Abstract

The prevalence of suicidal ideations increased from 7.6% during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic to 10.0% in later periods.

Depression was identified as a significant risk factor for suicidal ideations during the pandemic.
Individuals experiencing more than three mental health issues were at the highest risk for developing suicidal ideations in the early pandemic phase.
Sex differences influenced the cumulative risk for suicidal ideations, indicating varied effects based on gender.

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BACKGROUND: Recent research suggested that COVID-19-related multiple mental health problems were associated with an increased risk for suicidal ideations (SIs), but population-based data demonstrating these associations are scarce. This study aimed to estimate the cumulative effects of psychological risk factors on SIs during the outbreak and remission periods of COVID-19 using a cumulative risk model, as well as sex differences.

METHODS: A total of 68,685 college students in China participated in the survey during two phases of the pandemic (T1 and T2). Mental health risks (acute stress, depression, anxiety, insomnia, and obsessive-compulsive symptoms) and sociodemographic characteristics were measured at T1, and SIs were assessed at T1 and T2. Hierarchical regression analysis was used to determine the combined effect of multiple mental health problems on SIs at T1 and T2.

RESULTS: The prevalence of SIs increased from the early periods of the COVID-19 pandemic (7.6%) to the later periods (10.0%). Depression was a powerful risk factor for SIs during the COVID-19 pandemic. Individuals with >3 mental risks would be most likely to experience rapidly increasing SIs during the early periods of the COVID-19 pandemic. Sex exerted different effects on the cumulative risk model of SIs.

CONCLUSIONS: Interventions, such as mental health education and improving utilization of student support services, should be implemented. There is a crucial need for early intervention and prevention efforts aimed at males with greater than three mental health problems.

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Longitudinal associations between multiple mental health problems and suicidal ideation among university students during the COVID-19 pandemic

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