Abstract
Background: In China, suicide is one of the major causes of death among adolescents and young adults. Various factors affect suicidal ideation. Aim: The current study examined how psychological strains affected suicidal ideation. Method: A questionnaire survey study was conducted in a Chinese university, with a large sample of 979 undergraduate students. The multiple linear regression analysis was used to exam the possible risk factors for suicidal ideation. Results: Grade, religion, course attendance, appearance self-evaluation, depression, social support and psychological strains measured by differential values strain and relative deprivation strain were significantly associated with suicidal ideation. Conclusions: Chinese young people’ psychological strains were predictors of suicidal ideation with the important demographic variables controlled for.