Moderators of suicide ideation in Asian international students studying in Australia

ABSTRACT Objective Stressful life events have been identified as risk factors for suicidal ideation in students. However, little research has explored the extent to which such events constitute a risk for suicidal ideation in Asian international students living in Australia. Even fewer studies have explored variables that moderate the relationship between stressful life events and suicidal ideation in this cohort. Methods One hundred and thirty-eight such students were asked to complete a battery of online questionnaires measuring experiences of stressful life events, loneliness, campus connectedness, coping strategies and suicidal ideation. Results Regression analyses indicated that the relationship between stress and suicidal ideation was moderated by lower levels of loneliness, higher levels of campus connectedness and problem-focused coping. Conclusions These findings emphasise factors to be addressed in suicide prevention for Asian international students studying in Australia. Key Points What is already known about this topic: Suicide is the leading cause of death among people aged 15-24 years in Australia. International students are at high risk for developing suicide ideation because of their exposure to stressors connected to living abroad. Stressful life events are associated with risk for suicidal ideation in Asian international students studying in universities in Australia. However, there is little empirical research that has explored moderators that may buffer against the adverse effects of such stressors in international students. What this topic adds: Compared to Asian international students who feel less socially connected, those who feel more socially connected feel less suicidal even when experiencing a high level of stressful life events. Compared to Asian international students who use less problem focused coping skills, those who use more problem focused coping skills feel less suicidal even when experiencing a high level of stressful life events. Social support, involvement in one’s university campus, and problem focused coping skills act as a buffer against the effects of stressful life events on suicidal ideation in Asian international students.