Influential Factors of Suicidal Ideation among University Students—The Moderating Role of Family Closeness and Peer Support

Objectives: Suicidal ideation (SI) among university students is a growing concern, influenced by anxiety, depression, and bullying. However, family closeness and peer support may act as protective factors, reducing the risk of SI. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the key factors influencing SI among university students, focusing on the effects of anxiety, depression, and bullying, along with the roles of family closeness and peer support. The research also explores the interactions and mechanisms between these variables. Methods: A sample of 318 university students was surveyed, evaluating six main factors: anxiety, depression, bullying, family closeness, peer support, and SI. Using the Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) and Artificial Neural Networks (ANN) approach, both compensatory and non-compensatory relationships were examined. Results: Anxiety, depression, and bullying significantly contribute to SI, with depression mediating the link between anxiety, bullying, and SI. Additionally, family closeness moderates the effects of anxiety and bullying on SI, while peer support moderates the effects of depression and bullying. The multilayer perceptron analysis identifies peer support as the most influential predictor, followed by bullying, family closeness, depression, and anxiety. Conclusion: The study identifies anxiety, depression, and bullying as key factors influencing suicidal ideation (SI) among university students. Family closeness and peer support act as protective factors, moderating the effects of these variables on SI.