Sense of coherence as a mediator in the relationship between belonging and suicide tendency in nursing students

Abstract

Aim

This study was conducted to examine the mediating role of a sense of coherence in the relationship between belonging and suicide tendency in nursing students.

Method

Our descriptive and correlational study was conducted with 606 nursing students enrolled in a university, stratified randomly sampled by classes, between December 2022 and February 2023. The data were collected using the Characteristics Form, Sense of Coherence Scale, Belonging Scale, and Suicide Tendency Subscale.

Results

In our study, a negative statistically significant relationship was found between the mean scores of the Sense of Coherence and Belonging Scale and the mean scores of the Suicidal Tendency Subscale of nursing students. The mediating role of a sense of coherence in the relationship between belonging and suicide tendency was found to be at a high level. The Sense of Coherence and Belonging Scale explains 38.5 % of students' suicide tendency scores.

Conclusions

As a result of the study, it was determined that suicidal tendencies increased as students' sense of belonging and sense of coherence scores decreased. In addition, it is seen that the development in the sense of coherence has a high level of mediation in both belonging and suicidal tendencies. These results reveal a need for studies to strengthen students' sense of coherence in health protection and promotion practices in their educational and professional lives.