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A longitudinal study testing the role of psychache in the association between emotional abuse and suicidal ideation
Author(s) -
Li Xiaoan,
You Jianing,
Ren Yaxuan,
Zhou Jiazhi,
Sun Ruohan,
Liu Xiaoliu,
Leung Freedom
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
journal of clinical psychology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.124
H-Index - 119
eISSN - 1097-4679
pISSN - 0021-9762
DOI - 10.1002/jclp.22847
Subject(s) - suicidal ideation , psychology , clinical psychology , association (psychology) , ideation , psychological intervention , psychological abuse , suicide prevention , psychiatry , poison control , psychotherapist , child abuse , medicine , medical emergency , cognitive science
Objective Research suggests that emotional abuse is associated with adolescent suicidal ideation. But how they are related is still unclear. The present study tested the temporal relationship between emotional abuse and suicidal ideation, with psychache as the potential mediator. We also examined the reciprocal relationship between psychache and suicidal ideation. Method A number of 2,259 Chinese high school students (53.8% females, mean age = 15.11, SD = 1.57) in Hong Kong completed questionnaires assessing emotional abuse, psychache, and suicidal ideation three times at 6‐month intervals. Results The results supported the mediating effect of psychache in the path from emotional abuse to suicidal ideation. In addition, psychache and suicidal ideation were related reciprocally over time. Conclusion The findings of this study may help researchers and practitioners understand the pathways by which emotional abuse impacts adolescent suicidal ideation. Implications for preventions and interventions of suicidal ideation were discussed.