The Role of Anxiety in Suicidal Capability Among Prisoners: The Mediating Effect of Aggression

The purpose of this study was to investigate whether anxiety independently influences the acquired capability for suicide among prisoners and to examine whether aggression mediates the relationship between anxiety and acquired capability for suicide. Structural relationships among anxiety, aggression, and acquired capability for suicide were analyzed using data collected from 500 inmates at P Prison in South Korea. Mediation analysis was conducted with SPSS 25.0. The results were as follows: (1) Anxiety did not have a statistically significant direct effect on acquired capability for suicide. (2) When aggression was included in the model, anxiety had a significant positive effect on aggression, which in turn had a significant positive effect on acquired capability for suicide. (3) Aggression demonstrated a mediating effect in the relationship between anxiety and acquired capability for suicide, indicating that anxiety indirectly increased acquired capability for suicide through aggression. (4) Notably, when aggression was included as a mediator, the direct effect of anxiety on acquired capability for suicide became negative. Unlike previous studies on the general population, this research explored the mechanisms linking anxiety and acquired capability for suicide among inmates in a prison setting. The findings suggest that within prison settings, when aggression is controlled, anxiety may actually inhibit the acquired capability for suicide. These results underscore the need for targeted psychological interventions to reduce suicide risk among inmates in correctional facilities.