Metacognitive Beliefs and Suicide Risk

The Mediating Role of Cognitive-Emotion Regulation Strategies among Students in HEIs in Pakistan

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.17047279

Abstract

Abstract Views: 857

The present study aims to explore the indirect effects of CERS (adaptive & maladaptive skills) on the association between metacognitive beliefs and suicide proneness among students from HEIs in Pakistan. The sample comprised university students with a mean age of 21.5 years recruited from different HEIs in Pakistan using a convenient sampling technique. To assess variables, Wells’ Metacognitive Questionnaire (MCQ-30), Cognitive Emotion Regulation Questionnaire-Short and Life Attitudes Schedule- Short (LAS) were used in the Urdu language. Findings indicate that metacognitive beliefs predict the adaptive CERS, maladaptive CERS and suicide proneness. Findings show that adaptive CERS fully mediate the association between metacognitive beliefs and suicide proneness. Furthermore, maladaptive CERS fully mediate the association between metacognitive beliefs and suicide proneness. This study concludes that CERS significantly influence suicidal risk experiences among university students. Specifically, adaptive coping strategies appear to mitigate suicide risk, whereas maladaptive coping strategies tend to exacerbate it. Designing and implementing evidence-based indigenous prevention interventions would help youth address mental health and suicide risk and improve their well-being.

Keywords:

Cognitive emotion regulation strategies, Higher education institutes, Metacognitive beliefs, Suicide proneness

Author Biographies

Hira Mukhtar,

She is a Research Scholar at the Institute of Clinical Psychology, University of Karachi, Karachi, Pakistan. She completed her MPhil in Clinical Psychology from the Institute of Clinical Psychology, University of Karachi, Karachi, Pakistan.

Salman Shahzad (Ph.D),

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

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Published

2025-08-31

How to Cite

Mukhtar, H., & Shahzad, S. (2025). Metacognitive Beliefs and Suicide Risk: The Mediating Role of Cognitive-Emotion Regulation Strategies among Students in HEIs in Pakistan. Academy of Education and Social Sciences Review, 5(3), 452–461. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.17047279

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