Evaluación de dos modelos explicativos de la ideación suicida en una muestra de estudiantes de medicina colombianos

Evaluation of two explanatory models of suicidal ideation in a sample of Colombian medical students

Abstract

Suicidal ideation has a high prevalence in Colombia (38.7%), and remains a public health issue that appears to be more pronounced among medical students compared to the general population. Therefore, recognizing the variables that explain this phenomenon is crucial. The objective was to evaluate two explanatory models of suicidal ideation in this population, with depression, psychoactive substance use, frustrated belongingness, perceived burden, and academic burnout as risk factors. The latter is examined in both a mediating and moderating role. Method: an explanatory design with latent variables, involving 620 participants. Results: depression, psychoactive substance use, and academic burnout mediate the relationship between frustrated belongingness and perceived burden with suicidal ideation, explaining 45% of the variance (CFI=.98; TLI=.95; SRMR=.062; , p<.001; RMSEA=.103[.071-.139]). Conclusions: it is necessary to include third variables (mediation or moderation) to better explain a higher variance of suicidal ideation, not solely relying on linear risk factors.