The importance of coping and emotion regulation in the occurrence of suicidal behaviour

Abstract

Research has shown that the use of maladaptive coping strategies and difficulties in regulating mood are linked to increasing risk of suicide. This study measured the impact of coping and emotional regulation on suicidal behaviour in a sample of Asian students. The aim was to determine whether different coping strategies and methods of expressive suppression and cognitive reappraisal would be associated with suicidal behaviour. One hundred and twenty undergraduate students were recruited from The Open University in Hong Kong and all completed questionnaires that measured coping, emotional regulation, and suicidal behaviour. The results showed that increased avoidance coping was associated with increased suicidal behaviour, whereas increased cognitive reappraisal was associated with reduced risk of suicidal behaviour. Specifically, in an Asian student population, avoidance coping appears to be a risk factor for suicide, whilst cognitive reappraisal may be seen as a positive, protecting strategy. Keywords: emotion regulation; coping; suicidal behaviour; cognitive reappraisal, expressive suppression