Relationships Between Anxiety Symptoms, Hopelessness and Suicidal Ideation Among Parental Caregivers of Mandarin-Speaking Children With Speech Impairment: The Mediating Effect of Depressive Symptoms

Maladaptive behaviors in children with autism and parental hopelessness: The moderating role of parental reflective functioning

Hopelessness in parents has implications for parents' own well-being as well as their ability to meet the needs of their children. In the present study, we examined the effect of maladaptive behaviors in children with autism on parental hopelessness, with particular attention to whether parental reflective functioning would moderate the effect of maladaptive behaviors on parental hopelessness. Our sample included 68 parents of children with autism between the ages of 3 and 18. Findings revealed a significant positive relationship between maladaptive behaviors in the children and hopelessness in the parents. Moreover, parental reflective functioning moderated the effect of child maladaptive behaviors on parental hopelessness, such that children's maladaptive behaviors were positively associated with parental hopelessness in parents with low (but not high) reflective functioning. Findings suggest parental reflective functioning may be a protective factor against parental hopelessness, and thus a possible target for interventions for hopelessness in parents whose children with autism exhibit greater maladaptive behaviors.

Associations between Suicidal Ideation and Relatives' Physical and Mental Health among Community Residents: Differences between Family Members and Lineal Consanguinity

(1) Background: Despite the verified relationship between relatives’ characteristics and individual suicidal ideation, few studies have discussed the role of family members and lineal consanguinity independently according to whether they live together with the individuals or not. (2) Methods: The data in this study were collected in November 2019 and identified rural adults over 18 years old in Shandong as the survey objects, with a total of 879 valid cases included in this survey. Logistic regression analysis was employed to examine the risk factors affecting adults’ suicidal ideation and differentiate the effects of a family member and lineal consanguinity’s physical and mental health. Relatives’ physical and mental health were estimated by three aspects: whether they were suffering from chronic diseases, mental illness, or alcoholism. (3) Results: The study showed that a family member’s physical (OR = 2.303, p < 0.01) and mental health (OR = 5.877, p < 0.05) was related to suicidal ideation, but the association between lineal consanguinities’ physical and mental health and suicidal ideation were not supported. People over 40 years old (OR = 6.528, p < 0.05), from only-child families (OR = 4.335, p < 0.01), with household indebtedness (OR = 2.992, p < 0.001), or difficulty falling asleep (OR = 3.165, p < 0.001) had risk factors of suicidal ideation. (4) Conclusions: The physical and mental health of individuals’ family members are related to their suicidal ideation, and their lineal consanguinities’ physical and mental health are not related to suicidal ideation. These findings imply the different associations between family environment, genetic factors, and suicidal ideation. Family members’ health should be considered as a factor to prevent and control suicidal behaviors, including suicidal ideation.

The Relationship Between Negative Focused Disposition and Suicidal Ideation Among College Students: The Mediating Effects of Somatic Anxiety, General Distress, and Depression

OBJECTIVE

Suicide among college students is a major public health problem. Research has confirmed that negative focused disposition had a significant effect on suicidal ideation. This study aims to evaluate somatic anxiety, general distress and depression as mediators of the relationship between negative focused disposition and suicidal ideation.

METHODS

A total of 1798 college students (942 males) were recruited to complete measures of negative focused disposition, somatic anxiety, general distress, positive affect and suicidal ideation. The mediation models were conducted to assess the mediating effects of somatic anxiety, general distress and depression.

RESULTS

There was a significant and positive correlation between negative focused disposition and suicidal ideation in Chinese college students. On mediation analysis, somatic anxiety, general distress and depression mediated the relationship between negative focused disposition and suicidal ideation.

CONCLUSIONS

Negative focused disposition appears to directedly associate with suicidal ideation and can indirectly relate to suicidal ideation through the relation with somatic anxiety, general distress and depression. College students with few positive expectations of the future may benefit from interventions focusing on somatic anxiety, general distress and depression.