Emotional Well-being and Suicidal Ideation in Kosovo Youth: Mediating Roles of Hope, Coping, Social Support and Moderating Role of Self-Esteem

Author Information

Naim Fanaj, Alma Mater Europae Campus College Rezonanca, Kosovo
Sevim Mustafa, PMSH, Kosovo
Elona Krasniqi, UBT Higher Education Institution, Kosovo

Abstract

Suicidal ideation is connected to emotional well-being in a complex way. This connection involves multiple factors, including psychosocial influences that act as mediators and moderators. This cross-sectional study explored this relationship in young people in Kosovo, looking at the mediating role of hope, social support and coping and the moderating roles of self-esteem. 490 youth aged 15–23 years (Mage = 19.06; SD = 4.17) completed online questionnaires. 26.7% of participants reported suicidal ideation and 26.9% had poor wellbeing. Emotional well-being significantly predicted suicidal ideation in three models of mediators. Social support significantly predicted emotional well-being, had a significant negative effect on suicidal ideation and nonsignificant interaction with self-esteem. Emotional well-being significantly predicted Hope, and there was significant prediction of suicidal ideation in interaction with self-esteem. Dysfunctional Coping significantly negatively predicted emotional well-being, had significant positive effect on suicidal ideation and non-significant interaction with self-esteem. Only a moderated mediation through hope suggesting a moderating effect of self-esteem was confirmed. The findings highlight the importance that youth mental health programs should focus on building strong social support networks, regardless of whether they have high self-esteem and should prioritize identifying dysfunctional coping mechanisms and replacing them by training youth with healthier coping strategies. Prevention efforts may be ineffective if they are based solely on promoting positive thinking or increasing general self-esteem, in preventing suicidal behaviors.

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