Exploring the Association Of Emotional Intelligence, Coping Strategies And Suicidal Ideation Among Chinese University Students

Abstract

duction: With the expansion of university students in China and the increase in the number of students, students with suicidal ideation (SI) is also increasing. Emotional intelligence (EI) and coping strategies (CS) are two important factors influencing suicidal ideation among university students.

Objectives: This paper explores the levels of EI, CS, and SI among Chinese university students. This paper also explores the relationship between the factors and determines if and how CS can influence suicidal ideation.

Methods: A convenience sampling method was chosen to collect data through questionnaires from 300 students at a university in Hebei Province, China, resulting in 262 valid responses. The questionnaire included measures of EI, CS, and SI. Descriptive statistics, correlation analysis, and mediation analysis using Hayes’ PROCESS macro with bootstrap methods were conducted

Results: 74 students (28.24%) reported experiencing SI, with 24 students (9.16%) exhibiting higher levels of such ideation. The mean score for CS was 86.23±21.75, while the mean score for EI was 4.19±1.30. EI was significantly correlated with both CS and SI. Additionally, EI has a negative correlation with SI and a positive correlation with CS. In contrast, CS had a negative relationship with SI. In addition, CS mediated the relationship between EI and SI.

Conclusions: CS are significant mediators of SI. For university students experiencing SI, adopting appropriate CS can help reduce these thoughts to some extent. Therefore, schools and society should consider these factors when planning interventions and providing mental health support to students. Further research could explore the effectiveness of specific CS in reducing suicidal ideation among different subgroups of students.