The Impact of Negative Stimuli on Suicidality among Adulthoods: A Mediating Effect of Depression

• In Event: Research on the Conditioning, Mediating, and Moderating Effects of General Strain Theory

Abstract

Suicide is the leading cause of mortality in the world. The major factors of suicidal behavior are depressive symptoms. Using the data from the Korean General Social Survey (KGSS) in 2012, this study identified the causes of suicidality through General Strain Theory (GST) concepts such as negative stimuli and negative emotions. The results showed that physical punishment and mental abuse increased the level of depression. This study also found that suicidality was significantly associated with the depression level. However, physical punishment and mental abuse did not have significant direct effects on the suicidality. As a result, this study found that negative experiences before 18 years of age have an influence on depression, which increases the likelihood of suicide. Therefore, removing the causes of depression would be a key strategy to decrease suicide.

Authors

• Cagatay Koc, University of Louisville

• Hyunin Baek, University of Louisville

• Michael Losavio, University of Louisville