Harsh Parenting and Suicide Ideation among Chinese Adolescents: The Roles of Self-esteem and School Social Support

While negative parenting style has considered as a risk factor for suicide ideation, little attention has been given to the mechanisms between harsh parenting and suicide ideation. This study explored the mechanism underlying the relationship between harsh parenting and suicide ideation among Chinese adolescents. Participants were 4189 Chinese adolescents who completed measures of harsh parenting, school social support, self-esteem, and suicide ideation. The results demonstrated that beyond the direct impact of harsh parenting on adolescent suicide ideation, harsh parenting also indirectly contributed to adolescent suicide ideation via the mediator of adolescents’ self-esteem. School social support moderated the relationship between harsh parenting and self-esteem as well as the relationship between self-esteem and suicide ideation. The buffering effect of school social support is limited as risk increasing. The findings suggest potential pathways for suicide prevention and intervention strategies.