Is shyness related to depression and suicide risk

Bibliographic Data

ID21391942
AuthorsGabriel Nudelman (0000-0002-2505-430X, The Academic College of Tel Aviv–Yaffo Tel Aviv Israel, corresponding author), Hadas S Carmeli (The Academic College of Tel Aviv–Yaffo Tel Aviv Israel), Sami Hamdan (0000-0002-4398-2441, The Academic College of Tel Aviv–Yaffo Tel Aviv Israel)
Year2024
Volume65
Issue5
Pages947-953
Publication date2024-10-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueScandinavian Journal of Psychology (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0036-5564 • E-ISSN: 1467-9450
PublisherWiley (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1111/sjop.13047
PMID38849708
OpenAlexW4399465418
LanguageEN
Citations received1
References cited60

INTRODUCTION: Suicidal behavior is an important health issue, representing a leading cause of mortality, particularly among young adults. Depression was found to be predictive of suicide risk and predicted by shyness. Consequently, we tested a model wherein shyness leads to depression, which in turn leads to suicide risk. Moreover, we expected gender to moderate the effect of shyness on depression and suicide risk. METHODS: A convenience sample of 478 first-year college students (51% women, Age: M = 25.42, SD = 3.61) completed online self-report questionnaires assessing suicide risk, depression, shyness, and demographic variables. RESULTS: As expected, shyness was significantly correlated with depression (r = 0.40) and suicide risk (r = 0.24), and depression and suicide risk were also correlated with each other (r = 0.57). Depression statistically mediated the relationship between shyness and suicide risk (indirect effect for women = 0.92, SE = 0.16; for men = 0.72, SE = 0.17). Gender did not moderate the mediation effect. However, a direct link between shyness and suicide risk was found only among men (direct effect = 0.52, SE = 0.21). CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that shyness may be a significant factor in the development of depression and suicide risk, potentially serving as a valuable marker for identifying at-risk individuals. Moreover, clinicians should be aware of these associations, particularly among men, in order to maintain and support mental health as well as reduce suicidality

Anxiety · Depression (economics) · Injury prevention · Medical emergency · Occupational safety and health · Poison control · Psychiatry · Shyness · Suicide prevention · Suicide Risk · Clinical Psychology · COVID-19 and Mental Health · Human Factors and Ergonomics · Medicine · Mental Health via Writing · Psychology · Suicide and Self-Harm Studies