Investigation of the mediator role of self-compassion, self-disgust and social support in the relationship between perfectionistic self presentation and suicide ideation

Suicide is a serious public health problem. In preventing suicide, understanding the risk and protective factors of suicide ideation is of great importance. Perfectionistic self-presentation refers to an effort to exhibit a perfect self by hiding one's flaws and trying to reveal its positive aspects. In this study we aimed to investigate the mediating role of self-compassion, self-disgust and perceived social support on the relationship between perfectionistic self-presentation and suicide ideation. The sample of this study consisted of 519 Turkish university students between the ages of 18 and 58. For the purpose of the study, Demographic Information Form, Perfectionistic Self Presentation Scale, Suicide Ideation Scale, Self-Compassion Scale, Self-Disgust Revised Form and The Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support were applied to the participants. The Structural Equation Model Analysis was carried out in order to test the mediation model which was created basd on the hypotheses of the study. The model testing revealed that the mediating role of self-compassion, self-disgust and perceived social support on the relationship between perfectionistic self-presentation and suicide ideation was significant. Furthermore, as a result of the examination of indirect effects between variables, it was found that perfectionistic self-presentation significantly predicts suicide ideation through self-compassion and self-disgust. In addition, self-compassion and self-disgust significantly predict suicide ideation through perceived social support. Moreover, perfectionistic self-presentation significantly predicts suicide ideation both through self-compassion and perceived social support and self-disgust and perceived social support. These findings have interpreted as perfectionistic self-presentation reduces perceived social support by reducing self-compassion and enhancing self-disgust, and reduction in perceived social support leads to suicide ideation.