Poor sleep quality and suicidal ideation among Chinese community adults: A moderated mediation model of mental distress and family functioning

A growing number of studies have documented that sleep problems were associated with suicidal ideation. However, little is known about the mediating and moderating mechanisms underlying this relation. The present study examined whether mental distress mediated the relationship between poor sleep quality and suicidal ideation, and whether this mediating process was moderated by family functioning. A sample of 1520 community adults (49.6% males, 18–35 years old) recruited from the community through social media completed an online survey regarding sleep quality, mental distress, family functioning and suicidal ideation. The current study found that the prevalence of suicidal ideation among community adults was 30.0%, and females had a higher prevalence than males. After controlling for demographic variables, poor sleep quality was positively associated with suicidal ideation. Mediation analysis indicated that mental distress partially mediated the association between poor sleep quality and suicidal ideation. Tests of moderated mediation further revealed that family functioning moderated the second part of the mediation process. Specifically, mental distress was a significant risk factor for suicidal ideation in community adults with low family functioning, but not for those with high family functioning. This study helps to elucidate the mechanism that underlined the pathway between sleep problems and suicidal ideation among community adults. Psychological interventions aimed at reducing sleep problems and mental distress may be helpful for decreasing the risk of suicidal ideation, especially for suicide ideators with poor family functioning.