[ role of depression, stress, happiness and social support in identifying suicidal thoughts in students]

ABSTRACT

This study has investigated the predictive value of psychological constructs including stressfulness of life, depression, happiness and social support on the rate of suicidal thoughts in students. The study sample included 1094 boys and girls residing in the Tehran University's student dormitory. The participants completed Suicidal Ideation Scale [SIS], Student Depression Scale [SDS], Student Life Stress Inventory [SLSI], Oxford Happiness Scale [OHS], and Social Support [SS] scale. The statistical data analysis using multiple regression techniques showed that happiness, depression, stress and social support account for 76 percent of the changes in students' suicidal thoughts. In addition, the results showed that depression has the strongest predictive power of suicidal thoughts. Depression and related structural variables could be used for predicting and efficiently identifying students' suicidal thoughts