Sun, Sep 6, 2026
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Razi University
Abstract: (8 Views)
Abstract
Background: Suicidal ideation is a major mental health concern that emerges through the complex interplay of developmental, cognitive, and emotional factors. Childhood trauma, as a distal risk factor, may increase an individual’s vulnerability to suicidal ideation. However, the psychological mechanisms underlying this association remain insufficiently understood. The present study aimed to examine the mediating roles of cognitive hopelessness and distress tolerance in the relationships of childhood trauma and difficulties in regulating positive emotions with suicidal ideation.
Methods: This correlational study used structural equation modeling to test the proposed model. The study population comprised adults aged 18–45 years who attended counseling and psychological service centers affiliated with the State Welfare Organization in Kermanshah, Iran, during the first half of 2024. A total of 370 participants were selected through purposive sampling. Data were collected using the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ), the seven-item Beck Hopelessness Scale (BHS-7), the Distress Tolerance Scale (DTS), the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale–Positive (DERS-P), the Patient Health Questionnaire-8 (PHQ-8), and the Beck Scale for Suicide Ideation (BSSI). The data were analyzed using structural equation modeling and bias-corrected bootstrapping with 5,000 resamples.
Results: Childhood trauma had a significant direct effect on suicidal ideation. Furthermore, both childhood trauma and difficulties in regulating positive emotions significantly predicted cognitive hopelessness, which, in turn, significantly predicted suicidal ideation. These findings supported the mediating role of cognitive hopelessness. In contrast, although childhood trauma and difficulties in regulating positive emotions were significantly associated with distress tolerance, the path from distress tolerance to suicidal ideation was not statistically significant. Therefore, the mediating role of distress tolerance was not supported. The proposed model demonstrated an acceptable fit to the data.
Conclusion: The findings indicate that the associations of childhood trauma and difficulties in regulating positive emotions with suicidal ideation are partly mediated by the cognitive mechanism of hopelessness. These results highlight the importance of addressing modifiable cognitive processes, particularly hopeless beliefs and maladaptive cognitive patterns, when developing preventive and therapeutic interventions for individuals at risk of suicidal ideation.
Background: Suicidal ideation is a major mental health concern that emerges through the complex interplay of developmental, cognitive, and emotional factors. Childhood trauma, as a distal risk factor, may increase an individual’s vulnerability to suicidal ideation. However, the psychological mechanisms underlying this association remain insufficiently understood. The present study aimed to examine the mediating roles of cognitive hopelessness and distress tolerance in the relationships of childhood trauma and difficulties in regulating positive emotions with suicidal ideation.
Methods: This correlational study used structural equation modeling to test the proposed model. The study population comprised adults aged 18–45 years who attended counseling and psychological service centers affiliated with the State Welfare Organization in Kermanshah, Iran, during the first half of 2024. A total of 370 participants were selected through purposive sampling. Data were collected using the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ), the seven-item Beck Hopelessness Scale (BHS-7), the Distress Tolerance Scale (DTS), the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale–Positive (DERS-P), the Patient Health Questionnaire-8 (PHQ-8), and the Beck Scale for Suicide Ideation (BSSI). The data were analyzed using structural equation modeling and bias-corrected bootstrapping with 5,000 resamples.
Results: Childhood trauma had a significant direct effect on suicidal ideation. Furthermore, both childhood trauma and difficulties in regulating positive emotions significantly predicted cognitive hopelessness, which, in turn, significantly predicted suicidal ideation. These findings supported the mediating role of cognitive hopelessness. In contrast, although childhood trauma and difficulties in regulating positive emotions were significantly associated with distress tolerance, the path from distress tolerance to suicidal ideation was not statistically significant. Therefore, the mediating role of distress tolerance was not supported. The proposed model demonstrated an acceptable fit to the data.
Conclusion: The findings indicate that the associations of childhood trauma and difficulties in regulating positive emotions with suicidal ideation are partly mediated by the cognitive mechanism of hopelessness. These results highlight the importance of addressing modifiable cognitive processes, particularly hopeless beliefs and maladaptive cognitive patterns, when developing preventive and therapeutic interventions for individuals at risk of suicidal ideation.
Keywords: suicidal ideation, childhood trauma, cognitive hopelessness, distress tolerance, difficulties in regulating positive emotions, structural equation modeling
Type of Study: Research |
Received: 2026/07/23 | Accepted: 2026/09/4
Received: 2026/07/23 | Accepted: 2026/09/4
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