Depressive symptoms and suicidal ideation (SI) have emerged as significant issues among college students. Numerous studies have shown a link between alcohol use and suicidal ideation, particularly highlighting the pronounced relationship between depression and SI among alcohol use groups and college students. Protective Behavioral Strategies (PBS) have been identified as effective methods for mitigating the risks associated with alcohol use; however, there is a lack of research on whether these strategies offer the same protective effects for students at high risk of SI due to depression and alcohol use. This study aims to examine the role of PBS in preventing suicidal ideation among college student drinkers, with a particular focus on whether PBS is more protective for students experiencing depressive symptoms and problematic alcohol use.
In this study, an online survey was conducted among 990 undergraduate students at a Southeastern university to collect information on demographics, depressive symptoms, suicidal ideation (SI), alcohol use, and Protective Behavioral Strategies (PBS) using standardized tools including the PHQ-9, C-SSRS, AUDIT, and PBSS-20. The collected data were analyzed using logistic regression to examine the interactions between PBS, depressive symptoms, and problematic alcohol use, and their effects on SI.
The results indicated that depressive symptoms were significantly associated with an increased likelihood of suicidal ideation (SI), and problematic alcohol use was significantly linked to these depressive symptoms. However, problematic alcohol use itself was not directly associated with SI. It is noteworthy that Protective Behavioral Strategies (PBS) proved to be particularly effective for individuals with high levels of depressive symptoms and problematic alcohol use. Specifically, the protective effect of PBS was more pronounced among students with higher depressive symptoms or heavier alcohol use, reducing the likelihood of SI in these groups. These findings suggest that depressive symptoms and problematic alcohol use can act as risk factors for SI and that PBS can serve as an effective protective factor in mitigating this risk.
Takeaway: Protective behavioral strategies (PBS) might offer protection for heavier drinkers who are at heightened risk for suicidal ideation (SI).