The Mediating Effect of Stress Coping Type and Self-esteem between Life Stress and Suicidal Ideation in Nursing College Students

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to identify the mediating effect of stress coping type and self-esteem between life stress and suicidal ideation in nursing college students. The research design was descriptive study. Methods: A set of self-reported questionnaires was completed by 197 nursing college students, including demographic charac- teristics, life stress, stress coping type, self-esteem, and suicidal ideation. Data was analyzed using t-test, ANOVA, Scheffes test, correlation analysis, and regression analysis for mediating effect by SPSS ver. 22. Results: The mean age was 20.9 years. The mean scores were 2.4, 3.6, and 1.7 out of 5 Likert scales for items of life stress, self-esteem, and suicidal ideation, respectively. The mean score for stress coping type was 2.36 out of 4 Likert scales. There was a positive correlation between suicidal ideation and life stress related to tasks, life stress related to interpersonal relationship, and emotion-focused coping of stress coping type (r=.537, p<.01); while a negative correlation between self-esteem and suicidal ideation. emotional-focused coping of stress coping type had a partial mediating effect be- tween life stress related to tasks and suicidal ideation. Also, self-esteem had a partial mediating effect between life stress related to tasks and suicidal ideation as well as between life stress related to interpersonal relationship and suicidal ideation. Conclusion: Based on the finding of this study, it is necessary to apply various program to stress coping skill and self-esteem in order to reduce suicidal ideation in nursing college students.