Reasons for Living and Suicidal Ideation in College Adolescents: A Meta Analysis with Evidence from India

  • Unique Paper ID: 196780
  • Volume: 12
  • Issue: 11
  • PageNo: 4734-4739
  • Abstract:
  • Background: Suicidal ideation among college adolescents is a global public health concern. Reasons for living (RFL) are protective beliefs and commitments that buffer against suicidal thoughts, yet their role remains underexplored in India. Objective: To synthesize evidence on protective and risk factors associated with suicidal ideation among college adolescents, with emphasis on Indian studies. Methods: A systematic search of PsycINFO, PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar identified 25 eligible studies (13 Indian, 12 global) published between 2015 and 2025. Random effects meta analysis was conducted, reporting pooled odds ratios (OR), confidence intervals (CI), heterogeneity (I²), and publication bias. Results: Pooled prevalence of suicidal ideation was 14.8% globally and 17.2% in India. Protective factors included family support (OR = 0.42, 95% CI: 0.35–0.55), academic aspirations (OR = 0.55, 95% CI: 0.50–0.65), spirituality/moral beliefs (OR = 0.48, 95% CI: 0.40–0.52), and peer relationships (OR = 0.61, 95% CI: 0.58–0.66). Risk factors included depression (OR = 2.8, 95% CI: 2.4–3.2), hopelessness (OR = 2.3, 95% CI: 2.0–2.6), academic stress (OR = 1.9, 95% CI: 1.6–2.2), and social isolation (OR = 2.1, 95% CI: 1.8–2.4). Moderate heterogeneity was observed (I² = 38–42%), but sensitivity analyses confirmed robustness. Conclusion: RFL significantly reduce suicidal ideation among college adolescents. Indian studies highlight family and spirituality as uniquely protective. Interventions should be culturally tailored to reinforce protective factors while addressing risk factors.

Copyright & License

Copyright © 2026 Authors retain the copyright of this article. This article is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

BibTeX

@article{196780,
        author = {Dr. Minkesh Chowdhary and Dr. Tulika Ghosh},
        title = {Reasons for Living and Suicidal Ideation in College Adolescents: A Meta Analysis with Evidence from India},
        journal = {International Journal of Innovative Research in Technology},
        year = {2026},
        volume = {12},
        number = {11},
        pages = {4734-4739},
        issn = {2349-6002},
        url = {https://ijirt.org/article?manuscript=196780},
        abstract = {Background: Suicidal ideation among college adolescents is a global public health concern. Reasons for living (RFL) are protective beliefs and commitments that buffer against suicidal thoughts, yet their role remains underexplored in India. 
Objective: To synthesize evidence on protective and risk factors associated with suicidal ideation among college adolescents, with emphasis on Indian studies. Methods: A systematic search of PsycINFO, PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar identified 25 eligible studies (13 Indian, 12 global) published between 2015 and 2025. Random effects meta analysis was conducted, reporting pooled odds ratios (OR), confidence intervals (CI), heterogeneity (I²), and publication bias. Results: Pooled prevalence of suicidal ideation was 14.8% globally and 17.2% in India. Protective factors included family support (OR = 0.42, 95% CI: 0.35–0.55), academic aspirations (OR = 0.55, 95% CI: 0.50–0.65), spirituality/moral beliefs (OR = 0.48, 95% CI: 0.40–0.52), and peer relationships (OR = 0.61, 95% CI: 0.58–0.66). Risk factors included depression (OR = 2.8, 95% CI: 2.4–3.2), hopelessness (OR = 2.3, 95% CI: 2.0–2.6), academic stress (OR = 1.9, 95% CI: 1.6–2.2), and social isolation (OR = 2.1, 95% CI: 1.8–2.4). Moderate heterogeneity was observed (I² = 38–42%), but sensitivity analyses confirmed robustness. Conclusion: RFL significantly reduce suicidal ideation among college adolescents. Indian studies highlight family and spirituality as uniquely protective. Interventions should be culturally tailored to reinforce protective factors while addressing risk factors.},
        keywords = {},
        month = {April},
        }

Cite This Article

Chowdhary, D. M., & Ghosh, D. T. (2026). Reasons for Living and Suicidal Ideation in College Adolescents: A Meta Analysis with Evidence from India. International Journal of Innovative Research in Technology (IJIRT), 12(11), 4734–4739.

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