Abstract
Objectives
Previous studies have shown that negative perfectionism is a critical predictor of suicidal ideation. However, few studies have explored the mechanisms underlying the effects of negative perfectionism on suicidal ideation. Therefore, the current study aims to explore the longitudinal relationship between negative perfectionism and suicidal ideation among Chinese adolescents, the mediating roles of intolerance of uncertainty and anxiety symptoms, and the moderating role of trait mindfulness.
Method
A total of 1665 Chinese middle school students (45% males; Mage = 15.84 years, SD = 1.56) completed questionnaires. The investigation was conducted twice, with an interval of 6 months.
Results
Negative perfectionism was positively correlated with suicidal ideation, intolerance of uncertainty, and anxiety symptoms. After controlling for gender and baseline suicidal ideation, negative perfectionism exacerbated suicidal ideation through increasing intolerance of uncertainty and anxiety symptoms. Additionally, trait mindfulness buffered the association between anxiety symptoms and suicidal ideation, as well as the association between intolerance of uncertainty and anxiety symptoms.
Conclusions
These results demonstrated the longitudinal relationship among negative perfectionism, intolerance of uncertainty, anxiety symptoms, and suicidal ideation and expand our understanding of the development of suicidal ideation. Moreover, the protective role of trait mindfulness implies that promoting trait mindfulness may be useful for interventions and preventions of suicidal ideation.
Preregistration
This study is not preregistered.
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Data Availability
The datasets generated and/or analyzed during the current study are not publicly available but are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.
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Funding
This study was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 31771228), the National Social Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 19ZDA360), and the Special Funds for the Cultivation of Guangdong College Students’ Scientific and Technological Innovation (“Climbing Program” Special Funds) (Grant No. pdjh2021b0145).
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Xinglin Zhou and Danrui Chen: conceived of the study, conducted the statistical analysis, and drafted the manuscript. Huijiao Wu and Jiefeng Ying: participated in data collection and helped revise the manuscript. Yunhong Shen and Qixin Zhu: participated in data collection and managed the literature searches. Lurong Zheng: managed the literature searches and checked the manuscript. Min-Pei Lin and Jianing You: participated in the design of the study and helped revise the manuscript.
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This study was approved by the South China Normal University Research Ethics Board.
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Zhou, X., Chen, D., Wu, H. et al. The Protective Effect of Trait Mindfulness on the Associations Between Negative Perfectionism and Suicidal Ideation Among Chinese Adolescents: A Longitudinal Moderated Mediation Model. Mindfulness 14, 395–405 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12671-023-02069-9
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12671-023-02069-9