Mediating the effects of depression in the relationship between university students' attitude toward suicide, frustrated interpersonal needs, and non-suicidal self-injury during the COVID-19 pandemic

ObjectiveThe study aimed to examine the relationship on attitudes toward suicide, frustrated interpersonal needs, and non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) of the university students.MethodsThe participants included 175 university students. Data were analyzed using the SPSS PROCESS macro (Model 4).ResultsDepression showed a fully mediating effect on the relationship between one's attitude toward suicide and NSSI behaviors. Furthermore, depression showed a full mediating impact on the relationship between frustrated interpersonal needs and NSSI behaviors.ConclusionsThese findings indicate that suicidal attitudes and frustrated interpersonal needs should be considered significant factors for developing NSSI preventions and intervention among university students.