The Role of Early Maladaptive Schemas and Interpersonal Needs in the Prediction of Suicidal Ideation: A Structural Equation Modeling Study among High School Students

Aim: The primary propose of the current study is to propose a model for predicting suicidal ideation based on early maladaptive schemas, with the mediation of interpersonal needs among high school students.Method: Employing a Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) approach, the research investigated the interplay between early maladaptive schemas and interpersonal needs. The methodology was purposefully, applied research, correlational in its descriptive nature, and rigorously adherent to the SEM design . The study encompassed the entire second-grade high school student population in Qazvin City during the academic year ۲۰۲۲-۲۰۲۳. A stratified multistage cluster sampling method systematically extracted a random sample of ۶۰۰ students. Data collection utilized three standardized instruments: Beck's Suicidal Ideation Scale (BSSI), Young Schema-Short Form (YSQ-SF), and the Interpersonal Needs (INQ). Robust data analysis employed SPSS ۲۵ and Smart PLS softwareFindings: The results indicated that maladaptive schemas exerted an indirect influence on suicidal ideation, mediated through interpersonal needs. Conversely, no direct effect of maladaptive schemas on suicidal ideation was observed. Maladaptive schemas, however, exhibited a direct association with interpersonal needs, (thwarted belongingness and perceived burdensomeness), both of which demonstrated a direct correlation with suicidal ideation. The model's adequacy was confirmed through goodness-of-fit indices.Conclusion: The theoretical implications of this study significantly contributed to the understanding of the intricate relationships influencing suicidal ideation among high school students. Furthermore, the practical applications of these findings extended to educational organizations and counseling centers, offering valuable insights for the development of targeted interventions aimed at reducing suicide rates in this demographic.

Keywords:

Suicidal ideation , early maladaptive schemas , interpersonal needs , Students