Self-Efficacy as the Mediator of the Relationship between Paternal Approval and Suicidal Ideation among Malaysian Adolescents

摘要

Suicide phenomenon among young generation has become a leading cause of death especially among adolescents. In Asian countries, suicidal rate is at an alarming state in which it has contributed around 60% of the world suicide cases. In order to prevent suicidal behavior, suicidal ideation need to be investigated as it happened prior any suicidal behavior. Thus, the aim of this research is to determine the relationships between paternal approval, self-efficacy and suicidal ideation among adolescents with self-efficacy as a mediator. Methods. This study used a cross-sectional research design where 682 adolescents aged between 14 - 17 years old were selected from different high school in Malaysia. Multistage cluster sampling was used to recruit the participants using self-administered questionnaires. The instruments used were Network of Relationships - Relationship Quality Version subscale, General Self-Efficacy Scale and Negative subscale of the Positive and Negative Suicide Ideation Inventory. For analysis, Pearson's Correlation and SPSS macro by Preacher and Hayes was used to test the objectives of this study. Results. Negative correlation was found between paternal approval and suicidal ideation as well as between self-efficacy and suicidal ideation. These findings implied that adolescents who gained more approval from their father and had a higher level of self-efficacy were less likely to have suicidal thoughts. On the other hand, positive correlation was found between paternal approval and self-efficacy which demonstrated that fathers who gave more approval to their children will develop children with higher sense of self-efficacy. For the mediation model, the relationship between paternal approval and adolescents' suicidal ideation was successfully mediated by self-efficacy. The findings implied that paternal approval is important in adolescents' life as it is able to increase adolescents' self-efficacy which then is able to reduce the tendency of having suicidal thoughts. Conclusions. The current study has identified two important factors namely paternal approval and self-efficacy that were significantly correlated with adolescents' suicidal ideation. Adolescents are less likely to develop suicide thoughts when their father imposes less restrictions and give more supports to what they want to do in life. Gaining high approval from fathers also helps in increasing adolescents' level of self-efficacy. Therefore, intervention dealing with adolescents' suicidal ideation should include parenting education for parents especially for fathers and also enhancing adolescents' self-efficacy.