Discrimination and self-harm outcomes among college students: The paradoxical moderating effect of belongingness

OBJECTIVE: This study examines the associations between discrimination and suicidality, and the moderating role of sense of belonging. PARTICIPANTS: Data came from a sample of 66,497 college students (Mage = 23.4; SDage = 7.3) in a nationally representative study. METHODS: Multilevel logistic regressions examined associations between discrimination and suicidality-including suicidal ideation (SI), suicide attempts (SA), and non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI)-and moderating effects of belonging. RESULTS: = 0.010). CONCLUSION: Findings revealed a paradoxical pattern: although belonging was associated with reduced odds of suicidality, discrimination was more strongly associated with suicidality among students with higher belonging.