The role of parenting styles and depression in predicting suicidal ideation vulnerability among university students

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Parenting practices are relevant in shaping children's psychological development, and positive parenting tends to be associated with positive outcomes. These practices significantly affect adolescents' mental health by influencing depression, suicidal behaviours, and attitudes towards suicide. AIM: To examine the predictive role of parenting styles and depression in vulnerability to suicidal ideation among university students. METHODS: A descriptive correlational study was conducted with 480 university students recruited using stratified multistage cluster sampling from the Faculty of Health Sciences (Medicine and Nursing), Mathematical Sciences (Engineering and Computer Science), and Human Sciences (Arts and Commerce) at Port-Said University. The instruments used for data collection included the Parenting Styles and Dimensions Questionnaire (PSDQ), Beck Depression Inventory, Morey Suicidal Ideation Scale (SUI), and a sociodemographic data sheet. Statistical analysis included Spearman correlation, non-parametric tests, and mediation analysis to explore the direct and indirect relationships. RESULTS: Participants' ratings ranged from moderate levels of depression (13.85 ± 7.68) to suicidal ideation (10.20 ± 5.32). In this regard, participants provided higher ratings for the scores of authoritative parenting reported by both mothers and fathers, with mean scores of 48.61 ± 10.59 and 45.96 ± 10.34, respectively. Suicidal ideation was somewhat negatively related to parenting style (p < 0.001), and there was a negative relationship between depression and the maternal parenting style (p < 0.0001). In contrast, depression was positively correlated with suicidal ideation (p < 0.01). CONCLUSION: The study concluded that Parenting styles significantly influence university students' mental health. Warmth combined with structure in parenting, which is authoritative parenting, is associated with lower levels of depression and suicidal ideation. These findings suggest that promoting positive parenting practices may foster students' mental well-being. CLINICAL TRIAL: No clinical trial.