Citation

Quintana-Orts C, Rey L, Mérida-López S, Extremera N. J. Affect. Disord. 2019; 245: 798-805.

Affiliation

Faculty of Psychology, University of Málaga, 29071 Málaga, Spain.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2019, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.jad.2018.11.030

PMID

30699862

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Recent research has demonstrated that victims of bullying report serious problems, such as depression, which heighten the risk of suicide. Emotional intelligence (EI) has been increasingly recognized as a protective factor, but little is known about the mechanisms underlying the relation between EI and suicide risk in victims. This study aimed to test a theoretical model of how EI, depressive symptoms and gender interact to influence suicidal ideation and attempts in a sample of Spanish victims of bullying.

METHODS: The sample comprised 465 victims (273 girls) who completed self-report measures of perceived EI, depression and suicide risk.

RESULTS: Mediation and moderation analyses were performed using conditional process analysis.

FINDINGS showed that EI is a predictor of decreased suicide in victims. This relationship was partially mediated by depressive symptoms. Furthermore, this effect was moderated by gender, such that the mediation effect was stronger in girls compared to boys (moderated mediation). LIMITATIONS: The cross-sectional design and the use of self-report instruments. Future research should address the longitudinal relations of these findings.

CONCLUSIONS: The promotion of emotional skills could be core to the development of suicide prevention programs in those high-risk adolescents who have suffered from bullying. Furthermore, gender should be taken into consideration, especially with regard to females reporting depressive symptoms related to having been bullied.

Copyright © 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Language: en

Keywords

Bullying victimization; Depressive symptoms; Emotional intelligence; Gender; Moderated mediation; Suicide risk