Discrimination faced by economically disadvantaged students: the mediating role of interpersonal factors in perceived discrimination predicting suicidal ideation

The issue of suicide among economically disadvantaged students (EDS) is of great concern to developing country society, yet research based on EDS populations is very limited. This study aims to use longitudinal paradigms and focus on college EDS to examine the effect of discrimination on suicidal ideation. A total of 578 economically disadvantaged college students (Mage = 19.46 years) completed the Perceived Discrimination Scale, the Interpersonal Needs Questionnaire (INQ), and the suicidal ideation sub-questionnaire of the Hopeless Depression Questionnaire (HDSQ). Six months later, we again assessed them for suicidal ideation (the dependent variables). The results suggest that perceived discrimination at Time 1 (T1) significantly and positively predicted suicidal ideation at Time 2 (T2). In the effect of perceived discrimination on immediate T1 suicidal ideation, the mediating role of both interpersonal factors (thwarted belongingness and perceived burdensomeness) was significant. In contrast, after controlling for T1 suicidal ideation, only the mediating role of perceived burdensomeness in the effect of perceived discrimination on T2 suicidal ideation was significant. Universities should pay attention to the psychological counselling of EDS to help them better face and solve the problem of discrimination.

Automated summary

This study aims to examine the effect of discrimination on suicidal ideation among economically disadvantaged college students. The results show that perceived discrimination significantly predicts suicidal ideation, with the mediating role of interpersonal factors.