Mediating Role Of Illicit Drugs Use Between Cognitive Distortions And Suicidal Ideation Among Students

Abstract

The present research investigated the association between cognitive distortions, suicidal ideation, and illicit drugs use among students. In addition, the study also signifies the mediating role of illicit drugs use between cognitive distortions and suicidal [1]ideation among students. A cross-sectional correlational design and snow-ball sampling technique was used, whereas data collected from 310 research participants aged 18 to 30 years from the students of colleges and universities of Peshawar and Islamabad. Results showed that cognitive distortions positively predicted suicidal ideation in regression analysis whereas a significant positive correlation was found of illicit drugs with cognitive distortions and suicidal ideation. Structural equation model was analyzed through SmartPLS 4 in order to compute the mediating role of illicit drugs use between cognitive distortions and suicidal ideation, result indicated that use of illicit drugs partially mediated the impact of cognitive distortions on suicidal ideation among students which is complimentary in nature. To summarize, these results emphasize the imperative role of addressing cognitive distortions and instigating targeted interventions for illicit drugs use to reduce the intensity and frequency of suicidal ideation among students.