Suicidal ideations: The role of emotional intelligence and hopelessness among police in Malaysia
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Abstract
Suicide has become an alarming phenomenon among the Royal Malaysia Police (RMP) with reported cases showing an increase each year. This cross-sectional study examines the association between depression, emotional intelligence (EI), hopelessness, and the prediction of suicidal ideation among police officers in Malaysia. A total of 2,508 police officers in 15 police contingents and the Royal Malaysia Police Head Quarters completed the questionnaires. The Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) was used to measure depression, and the Wong and Law Emotional Intelligence Scale (WLEIS) was employed to calculate overall emotional intelligence. The hopelessness variable was measured via the Beck Hopelessness Scale (BHS). The Revised Suicide Ideation Scale (R-SIS) was used to measure the tendency and severity of suicidal intention. The data were analysed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 29.0. The study found that emotional intelligence showed a significant negative correlation with suicidal ideation. Depression and hopelessness were significantly positively correlated with suicidal ideation. Further analysis using the logistic regression approach (stepwise) revealed that both depression, and hopelessness, were risk factors that influenced suicidal ideation among the police. Mediation analyses show that emotional intelligence and hopelessness act as mediators in the relationship between depression and suicidal ideation. Therefore, mental health professionals can design appropriate prevention and intervention programmes for those with suicidal ideation.
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.59429/esp.v9i10.3022
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