Problem-Solving Skills and Suicidal Ideation among Malaysian College Students: The Mediating Role of Hopelessness

Abstract

Objective: Recent evidence suggests that suicidal ideation has increased among Malaysian college students over the past two decades; therefore, it is essential to increase our knowledge concerning the etiology of suicidal ideation among Malaysian college students. This study was conducted to examine the relationships between problem-solving skills, hopelessness, and suicidal ideation among Malaysian college students. Methods: The participants included 500 undergraduate students from two Malaysian public universities who completed the self-report questionnaires. Results: Structural equation modeling estimated that college students with poor problem-solving confidence, external personal control of emotion, and avoiding style were more likely to report suicidal ideation. Hopelessness partially mediated the relationship between problem-solving skills and suicidal ideation. Conclusion: These findings reinforce the importance of poor problem-solving skills and hopelessness as risk factors for suicidal ideation among college students.