000156597 001__ 156597
000156597 005__ 20251017144623.0
000156597 0247_ $$2doi$$a10.1002/brb3.70457
000156597 0248_ $$2sideral$$a143925
000156597 037__ $$aART-2025-143925
000156597 041__ $$aeng
000156597 100__ $$aSoto-Sanz, Victoria
000156597 245__ $$aSuicidal Behavior in University Students in Spain: a Network Analysis
000156597 260__ $$c2025
000156597 5060_ $$aAccess copy available to the general public$$fUnrestricted
000156597 5203_ $$aIntroduction
Suicidal behavior is a significant mental health concern among university students, yet it remains underexplored through a network approach. Traditional methods often overlook the complex interplay of psychological factors influencing suicidal behavior. This study addresses this gap by (a) examining suicidal behavior using network analysis and (b) identifying the psychological network of suicidal behavior along with protective and risk factors among university students.
Method
The sample consisted of a total of 1048 Spanish university students (M = 20.5 years; SD = 2.5; 58.2% women) from various universities. Several instruments were used to measure suicidal behavior, emotional and behavioral difficulties, prosocial behavior, subjective well-being, emotional intelligence, self-esteem, empathy, affect (both positive and negative), and emotional regulation. Data were analyzed using network analysis to understand the relationships among these variables.
Results
A total of 21.5% of the participants had experienced suicidal thoughts, 26.3% had wished to be dead or not wake up, 15% had considered specific suicide methods or made plans, and 5.8% had attempted suicide at least once. In addition, 18% had engaged in non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) at least once. Network analysis revealed that suicidal behavior was highly interconnected with other psychological factors, with “considered taking own life” as the most influential node. Key factors included depressive symptoms, positive affect, and emotional intelligence. Suicidal behavior showed a positive connection with depressive symptoms and negative affect and a negative connection with self-esteem and positive affect. Stability analysis confirmed the accuracy of the network estimations, indicating reliable insights into the psychological interconnections.
Conclusions
These findings indicate that suicidal behavior in university students is a complex, dynamic system shaped by cognitive, emotional, and affective factors. Network analysis, through advanced psychopathological and psychometric models, offers valuable insights into suicidal behavior, improving risk and protective factor assessment. This highlights the need for targeted and comprehensive prevention strategies in educational settings.nd protective factor assessment. This highlights the need for targeted and comprehensive prevention strategies in educational settings.
000156597 540__ $$9info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess$$aby$$uhttps://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/deed.es
000156597 655_4 $$ainfo:eu-repo/semantics/article$$vinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion
000156597 700__ $$aGarcía del Castillo-López, Álvaro
000156597 700__ $$aPineda, David
000156597 700__ $$aFalcó, Raquel
000156597 700__ $$aRodríguez-Jiménez, Tíscar$$uUniversidad de Zaragoza
000156597 700__ $$aMarzo, Juan C.
000156597 700__ $$aPiqueras, José A.
000156597 7102_ $$14009$$2680$$aUniversidad de Zaragoza$$bDpto. Psicología y Sociología$$cÁrea Person.Eval.Trat.Psicoló.
000156597 773__ $$g15, 4 (2025), [11 pp.]$$pBrain behav.$$tBrain and behavior$$x2162-3279
000156597 8564_ $$s1150000$$uhttps://zaguan.unizar.es/record/156597/files/texto_completo.pdf$$yVersión publicada
000156597 8564_ $$s2248594$$uhttps://zaguan.unizar.es/record/156597/files/texto_completo.jpg?subformat=icon$$xicon$$yVersión publicada
000156597 909CO $$ooai:zaguan.unizar.es:156597$$particulos$$pdriver
000156597 951__ $$a2025-10-17-14:22:38
000156597 980__ $$aARTICLE