Linking psychological pain and suicidal ideation: The chain mediating effects of time perspective and meaning in life in young adults with cancer

This study explores the relationship between psychological pain and suicidal ideation in young adults with cancer and examines the roles of time perspective and meaning in life in that relationship. A cross-sectional design was utilized with 296 young adult cancer patients. Participants completed validated self-report measures assessing psychological pain, time perspective, meaning in life, and suicidal ideation. The mediation analysis revealed that psychological pain significantly affected suicidal ideation both directly and indirectly. Time perspective and meaning in life mediated this relationship partially, with past negative and present fatalistic perspectives increasing suicide risk by reducing meaning in life, while past positive and future perspectives mitigated this risk by promoting meaning in life. The findings demonstrate that time perspective and meaning in life are critical pathways through which psychological pain influences suicidal ideation in young adults with cancer. Interventions targeting these mediators could be crucial for preventing suicide in this population.