Mediating Role of Depression in the Relationship between Substance Use and Suicide Proneness among Adolescents in Underserved Communities in Pakistan

Authors

  • Malak Haseeb Ullah Department of Psychology, Federal Urdu University of Arts, Science & Technology, Karachi, Pakistan https://orcid.org/0009-0004-2756-2561
  • Sabir Shahzad College of Clinical Psychology, Ziauddin University, Karachi, Pakistan https://orcid.org/0009-0005-5135-775X
  • Shahid Iqbal (Ph.D) Department of Psychology, Federal Urdu University of Arts, Science & Technology, Karachi, Pakistan
  • Khan Muhammad Department of Psychology, Federal Urdu University of Arts, Science & Technology, Karachi, Pakistan
  • Nasreen Begum Institute of Clinical Psychology, University of Karachi, Karachi, Pakistan
  • Salman Shahzad (Ph.D) Institute of Clinical Psychology, University of Karachi, Karachi, Pakistan
  • Sohaib Aslam Department of Psychology, Federal Urdu University of Arts, Science & Technology, Karachi, Pakistan https://orcid.org/0009-0002-8427-1707

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.18287777

Abstract

Abstract Views: 223

Substance use in children and adolescents is a growing concern among health professionals in Pakistan. This study examined the mediating role of depression between substance use and suicide proneness among adolescents (aged 12 years to 18 years) from underserved communities. Participants were recruited from different places in Karachi, Pakistan using a convenience sampling technique. The Life Attitude Schedule (LAS), Centre for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES‑D) and Drug Abuse Screening Test-10 (DAST‑10) were used in Urdu language. Findings revealed that substance use significantly predicted depressive symptoms, which in turn significantly increased suicide proneness. The direct effect of substance use on suicide proneness remained significant, while the indirect effect through depression was also significant, indicating partial mediation. These findings underscore the significance of understanding social, emotional and cognitive domains of children and adolescents, and designing and implementing evidence-based prevention interventions to build resilience which serves as buffer against the mental health issues and other risky behaviours among in vulnerable adolescents. Further, this study signifies how parents can help their children in delaying to use of substance and reducing the risk of mental health problems and suicide among adolescents from underserved communities.

Keywords:

Adolescents, Mental health, Substance use, Suicide proneness, Vulnerable populations

Author Biographies

Malak Haseeb Ullah,

He is a Research Scholar at the Department of Psychology, Federal Urdu University of Arts, Science & Technology, Karachi, Pakistan. He completed his BS Psychology from Federal Urdu University of Arts, Science & Technology, Karachi, Pakistan.

Sabir Shahzad,

He is a Lecturer at the College of Clinical Psychology, Ziauddin University, Karachi, Pakistan. He is currently a PhD Scholar (Clinical Psychology) at the University of Karachi, Karachi, Pakistan.

Shahid Iqbal (Ph.D),

He is an Associate Professor at the Department of Psychology, Federal Urdu University of Arts, Science & Technology, Karachi, Pakistan. He obtained his Post-Doctorate in Clinical Psychology from the University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia.

Khan Muhammad,

He is a Research Scholar at the Department of Psychology, Federal Urdu University of Arts, Science & Technology, Karachi, Pakistan. He completed his BS Psychology from Federal Urdu University of Arts, Science & Technology, Karachi, Pakistan.

Nasreen Begum,

She is a Research Scholar at the Institute of Clinical Psychology, University of Karachi, Karachi, Pakistan. She completed her Masters of Clinical Psychology from the Virtual University, Karachi Campus, Pakistan.

Salman Shahzad (Ph.D),

He is a Professor at the Institute of Clinical Psychology, University of Karachi, Karachi, Pakistan. He obtained his Doctorate in Clinical Psychology from the Institute of Clinical Psychology, University of Karachi, Karachi, Pakistan.

Sohaib Aslam,

He is a Research Scholar at the Department of Psychology, Federal Urdu University of Arts, Science & Technology, Karachi, Pakistan. He completed his BS Psychology from Federal Urdu University of Arts, Science & Technology, Karachi, Pakistan.

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Bulletin of Multidisciplinary Studies

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Published

2025-12-31

How to Cite

Ullah, M. H., Shahzad, S., Iqbal, S., Muhammad, K., Begum, N., Shahzad, S., & Aslam, S. (2025). Mediating Role of Depression in the Relationship between Substance Use and Suicide Proneness among Adolescents in Underserved Communities in Pakistan. Bulletin of Multidisciplinary Studies, 2(4), 405–412. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.18287777

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Vol. 2 No. 4 (2025): October-December

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