The Causal Relationships between Emotional Intelligence and Suicidal Ideation in Adolescents Living in State Welfare Organization: Evaluating the Mediating Role of Finding Meaning in Life and Perceived Social Support

The present study was conducted to explain the causal relationships between emotional intelligence (EI) and suicidal ideation (SI) in adolescents living in state welfare organizations (SWO): evaluating the mediating role of finding meaning in life and perceived social support (PSS). The sample consisted of 320 adolescents living in Tehran's SWO, who were selected by multistage cluster sampling and participated in the research. The current research was descriptive and correlational (using structural equation modeling; SEM). The data were collected using the Wong and Law Emotional Intelligence Scale (2002), the Meaning in Life Questionnaire (MLQ; Steger et al., 2006), and the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS; Zimet et al., 1988) and were analyzed using SPSS 22.0 and Amos 24.0 software. The results showed that the model fits the collected data (c2/df =2.37, CFI=0.957, GFI=0.920, AGFI=0.881, and RMSEA=0.066). Direct path coefficient (PC) between EI (β=0.177, P>0.01), finding meaning in life (β=0.311, P>0.01) and PSS (β=0.427, P>0.01) with SI was negative and significant. The indirect PC between EI (β=-0.101, P=0.001) and finding meaning in life (β=0.111, P=0.001) with SI was negative and significant. The structural model of the research was the same in terms of fit with the data of two groups of girls and boys. Adolescents living in SWO are more vulnerable to suicide due to their special experiences. Finding meaning in life, higher EI, and social connections can reduce SI in adolescents and act as protective factors.

کلیدواژه های The Causal Relationships between Emotional Intelligence and Suicidal Ideation in Adolescents Living in State Welfare Organization: Evaluating the Mediating Role of Finding Meaning in Life and Perceived Social Support:

Suicidal ideation ، Emotional intelligence ، Finding meaning in life ، Perceived social support