INFLUENCE OF STRESS AND EMOTIONS REGULATION ON SUICIDAL IDEATION AMONG UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS OF UNIVERSITY OF ABUJA, NIGERIA

ABSTRACTThe study investigated the influence of stress, emotions regulation on suicidal ideation among (275)undergraduates students of University of Abuja, Nigeria. They consisted of 144 Male and 131 Female. Theparticipant responded to three sets of research instrument such as The Perceived Stress Scale (PSS),Emotion Regulation Questionnaire (ERQ) and Suicidal Ideation Attributes Scale (SIDAS). FourHypotheses were stated and tested. The study employed inferential statistics for the test of the fourhypotheses postulated in the study and the result shows that stress has a significant influence on suicidalideation (R= .231; F= 14.345, P < .05) among participants. Also, the results indicates a significant impact ofstress (β= .231 t= 3.787, p < .05) on suicidal ideation and suggest that increased in stress leads to relativelyincreased in suicidal ideation. Emotion regulation difficulties has a significant influence on suicidal ideation(R= .214; F= 9.401, P < .05) among participants. Also, the results indicates a significant impact of emotionregulation difficulties (β= .214 t= 3.066, p < .05) on suicidal ideation among participants. Stress andemotion regulation difficulty significantly and jointly influence student’s suicidal ideation (R= .294; F=12.868, P < .05) thus, accounted for about 8.6% variance for suicidal ideation among participants. Also, theresults indicates a significantly independent impact of stress (β= .238 t= 3.978, p < .05) and emotionregulation difficulty (β= .224 t= 2.297, p < .05) on suicidal ideation participants. The findings werediscussed in line with the existing literature cited in this project research. In conclusion, on the basis of thefindings, it was recommended that School authorities should encourage open conversations about stress,emotions and suicidal ideation to reduce stigma and promote help-seeking behaviorKey Words: Stress, Emotions regulation and Suicidal Ideation