Keywords:
mental health
suicide
supportive social network
SIS

  • Abstract

    Social support is the perception of the degree of affection and support received from family, friends or other significant individuals. According to WHO statistics that more than 700,000 individuals between the ages of 15 and 29 attempt suicide, which leading to deaths among college students worldwide, particularly those with inadequate support networks. Thus, this correlational study examined the relationship between social support and suicidal ideation among Vietnamese university undergraduates. Among the total sample (N = 290), 91 participants were male (31.4%), and 199 were female (68.6%) from 4 universities in Vietnam, namely, Van Lang University, Nguyen Tat Thanh University, Ho Chi Minh University of Education, and Hutech University. Our research employed a Google Form divided into two sections for data collection. The first section focused on gathering demographic information, and the second section included key variables such as social support and suicidal ideation. To ensure a wide-ranging sample, we utilized multiple media platforms, such as email, Facebook, and Zalo, to collect data from various universities. The findings revealed a significant negative correlation between social support and suicidal ideation. This study highlights the importance of investigating the direct relationships between social support and suicidal ideation. However, the study's cross-sectional design and reliance on self-reported data limit its ability to track changes in social support and suicidal thoughts over time and may introduce biases. To address these issues, future research should include longitudinal studies to explore how social support affects suicidal thoughts across different stages and contexts. Expanding research to a more diverse population, beyond just university students, will also provide a broader understanding of social support’s impact. Despite these limitations, the study provides important insights into how enhancing social support can reduce suicidal thoughts and highlights the importance of improving support systems to prevent suicide and promote mental health among at-risk groups.

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How to cite

Vu, B. T. T., Phan, D. A. D., Nguyen, N. K. H., Nguyen, T. T., Nguyen, M. T. D., Pham, T. V., & Hoang, D. (2024). The relationship between social support and suicidal ideation among college students in Vietnam. Multidisciplinary Science Journal, 7(4), 2025148. https://doi.org/10.31893/multiscience.2025148
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