Subjective academic achievement and suicide behavior among university students in Ghana: A moderated mediation of financial stress and depression

The study investigated the mediating role of depression in the association between subjective academic achievement and suicide behaviour. Further, we sought to find out whether financial stress would moderate such a plausible mediated relationship. A cross-sectional survey was used in the study. Out of 460 undergraduate students sampled for the study, 51.5% were male (Meanage = 20.7; SD = 3.19). We observed that subjective academic achievement has a positive effect on depression, which in turn has a positive impact on suicide behaviour. And this relationship is not influenced by financial stress. It appears that the association between subjective academic achievement and depression is context-specific and requires further investigation, since at this stage, the relationship is fuzzy.

Authors

Institutions

Publication Details

Journal
PLOS mental health.
Published
2026-05-29
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pmen.0000381
Primary Topic
Suicide and Self-Harm Studies
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
0.00
Controls
|||
ALL TIME
JAN
FEB
MAR
APR
MAY
JUN
JUL
AUG
SEP
OCT
article

Subjective academic achievement and suicide behavior among university students in Ghana: A moderated mediation of financial stress and depression

Collins Badu Agyemang, Worlali Nyaledzigbor, Feikoab Parimah, George Ofosu Oti et al.
PLOS mental health.
Suicide and Self-Harm Studies
article

Subjective academic achievement and suicide behavior among university students in Ghana: A moderated mediation of financial stress and depression

Collins Badu Agyemang, Worlali Nyaledzigbor, Feikoab Parimah, George Ofosu Oti, Eugenia Dedo Yamson, Phyllis Ama Tebuah Osei, Ernest K. Bobo, Amma Serwaa Aboagye Kyei, Bernice Essien, Joyce Nyarko, Margaret Amenuke-Edusei, Adina Addy
article en

Abstract

The study investigated the mediating role of depression in the association between subjective academic achievement and suicide behaviour. Further, we sought to find out whether financial stress would moderate such a plausible mediated relationship. A cross-sectional survey was used in the study. Out of 460 undergraduate students sampled for the study, 51.5% were male (Meanage = 20.7; SD = 3.19). We observed that subjective academic achievement has a positive effect on depression, which in turn has a positive impact on suicide behaviour. And this relationship is not influenced by financial stress. It appears that the association between subjective academic achievement and depression is context-specific and requires further investigation, since at this stage, the relationship is fuzzy.

PLOS mental health.Vol. 3(5)
University of Ghana (GH), Central University (GH), Ghana Education Service (GH)
Quality Education
Openalex Percentile: Top 5%
Suicide and Self-Harm Studies
AI Navigator

Ask Laika to Summarize, Analyze, and Connect papers live on the map.

Summarize Papers & Methodologies

Extract key findings, datasets, and comparative methods across publications.

Benchmark Rankings & Visual Analytics

Rank top research institutions, authors, funders, topics, and journals by Field-Weighted Citation Impact (FWCI) and paper volume with instant charts.

Connect Distant Disciplines

Bridge topological clusters on the map to find hidden collaborative intersections.