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Taheri E, Baghban Taraghdari A. Relationship Between Adverse Childhood Experiences And Suicidal Ideation Mediated by Emotion Regulation Difficulties and Metacognitive Beliefs in Iranian Medical Students. IJPCP 2025; 31 (1)
URL: http://ijpcp.iums.ac.ir/article-1-4486-en.html

Objectives Suicidal thoughts are a major concern among medical students. These thoughts may serve as a precursor to suicidal attempts. Suicidal ideation can be affected by emotion regulation skills and childhood experiences. The present study aimed to evaluate the relationship between adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and suicidal thoughts, mediated by emotion regulation difficulties and metacognitive beliefs among Iranian medical interns
Methods This is a correlational study  using structural equation modeling (SEM). Participants were 300 medical interns from Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Iran, in 2023, who were selected through convenience sampling. They completed the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ), Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (DERS), Metacognitions Questionnaire–30 items (MCQ-30), and Beck Scale for Suicidal Ideation (BSSI). Data were analyzed in SPSS software, version 25 and AMOS software, version 24.
Results The ACEs had a significant positive effect on suicidal thoughts (β=0.471, P<0.01), emotion regulation difficulties (β=0.762, P<0.01), and metacognitive beliefs (β=0.807, P<0.01). Emotion regulation difficulties (β=0.271, P<0.01) and metacognitive beliefs (β=0.267, P<0.01) also had significant positive effects on suicidal thoughts. Moreover, the indirect effects of ACEs on suicidal thoughts through emotion regulation difficulties (β=0.359, P<0.01) and metacognitive beliefs (β=0.441, P<0.01) were significant.
Conclusion ACEs have a direct effect on suicidal thoughts in medical students, and this relationship can be mediated by difficulties in emotion regulation and metacognitive beliefs.