Study suicidal ideation in relation to Academic stress, Resilience and Coping strategies amongst adolescents

Abstract

Suicide remains a delicate subject within society, often seen as a last resort by many individuals. In India, the competitive nature of career pursuits continues to escalate, placing significant strain on students' mental well-being. This study examined the prevalence of suicidal ideation and its correlation with academic stress, resilience, and coping strategies among adolescent students from the science faculty. Using, a purposive sampling technique, data were collected from 160 participants, comprising 80 competitive students and 80 non- competitive students from Tricity and Amritsar. The sample was evenly distributed across genders, with 40 males and 40 females in both the competitive and non-competitive groups. Various assessment tools, including the Suicidal Ideation Scale, Perception of Academic Scale (PAS), Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC), and Brief COPE Scale, were administered. The findings revealed a moderate level of academic stress among students, with a mild level of suicidal ideation, attributed to their moderate resilience and coping strategies. In correlation a negative correlation was observed between suicidal ideation and academic stress, while no correlation was found between suicidal ideation and resilience. Conversely, a positive relationship was identified between suicidal ideation and coping strategies. Further analysis, using t-ratios, uncovered significant differences between competitive and non- competitive students regarding approach coping strategy and planning coping strategy. Additionally, notable disparities emerged between males and females in terms of suicidal ideation, academic stress, faculty work and examination, academic self-perception, and coping venting. Among competitive students, three main predictors of suicidal ideation were identified: academic expectation, substance use coping strategy, and instrumental use coping strategy. In contrast, behavioral disengagement coping strategy emerged as the primary predictor among non-competitive students. Furthermore, an interaction effect between aspiration status and gender on suicidal ideation was detected. This study endeavors to address existing research gaps and underscore the critical importance of prioritizing students' mental health.