The relationships between anxiety and suicidal ideation and between depression and suicidal ideation among Chinese college students: A network analysis

Background: Suicide is a worldwide public health problem. Evidence from previous studies has confirmed the relationship among anxiety, depression and suicidal ideation. However, the com-plex psychopathological pathways between anxiety and suicidal ideation and between depression and suicidal ideation require further study.Methods: A total of 505 college students from China during COVID-19 pandemic were investigated in an online study. Anxiety, depression and suicidal ideation of the participants were investigated. R software was used to construct the anxiety-suicidal ideation and depression-suicidal ideation networks and to evaluate the bridge expected influences.Results: The anxiety-suicidal ideation network had 28 cross-community edges, the strongest one was A7 "Afraid something will happen"-S7 "Unable to solve personal problem"; A5 "Restlessness" and S3 "Hopelessness and suicide thoughts" had the highest bridge expected influences. The depression-suicidal ideation network had 36 cross-community edges, and the strongest one was D9 "Thoughts of death"-S5 "Unable to accomplish something important"; D9 "Thoughts of death" and S3 "Hopelessness and suicide thoughts" had the highest bridge expected influences. Conclusion: Intricate psychopathological pathways exist between anxiety and suicidal ideation and between depression and suicidal ideation. "Restlessness", "Thoughts of death" and "Hope-lessness and suicide thoughts" are considered targets for suicidal ideation interventions. The present study enriches the theory of symptoms and mental disorders and provides a reliable reference for the intervention practice of suicidal ideation.