Objective
To investigate the relationship between future self-continuity and suicidal ideation among college students, as well as the mediating role of authenticity and the moderating role of social connectedness.
Methods
A total of 1789 college students were surveyed by using the Future Self-Continuity Questionnaire (FSCQ), the Authenticity Scale, the Social Connectedness Scale (SCS) and the Brief Suicide Behavior Screening Questionnaire (BSBSQ).
Results & Discussion
(1) Future self-continuity was significantly negatively correlated with suicidal ideation(r=-0.206, p<0.001), and significantly positively correlated with both authenticity(r=0.437, p<0.001) and social connectedness(r=0.420, p<0.001). (2) Authenticity partially mediated the relationship between future self-continuity and suicidal ideation, with a mediating effect size of -0.228(p<0.001). The intermediate effect accounted for 48.3% of the total effect.(3) Social connectedness moderated the relationship between authenticity and suicidal ideation(β=0.0167, p<0.001).
Conclusions
Future self-continuity has a direct effect on suicidal ideation of college students and an indirect effect through authenticity. Authenticity has a greater negative predictive effect on suicidal ideation at low level of social connectedness.
 

suicidal ideation,future self-continuity,authenticity,social connectedness