The Protective Effect of Trait Mindfulness on the Associations Between Negative Perfectionism and Suicidal Ideation Among Chinese Adolescents: A Longitudinal Moderated Mediation Model

Objectives: Previous studies have shown that negative perfectionism is a critical predictor of suicidal ideation. However, few studies have explored the mechanisms underlying the effects of negative perfectionism on suicidal ideation. Therefore, the current study aims to explore the longitudinal relationship between negative perfectionism and suicidal ideation among Chinese adolescents, the mediating roles of intolerance of uncertainty and anxiety symptoms, and the moderating role of trait mindfulness. Method: A total of 1665 Chinese middle school students (45% males; M_age = 15.84 years, SD = 1.56) completed questionnaires. The investigation was conducted twice, with an interval of 6 months. Results: Negative perfectionism was positively correlated with suicidal ideation, intolerance of uncertainty, and anxiety symptoms. After controlling for gender and baseline suicidal ideation, negative perfectionism exacerbated suicidal ideation through increasing intolerance of uncertainty and anxiety symptoms. Additionally, trait mindfulness buffered the association between anxiety symptoms and suicidal ideation, as well as the association between intolerance of uncertainty and anxiety symptoms. Conclusions: These results demonstrated the longitudinal relationship among negative perfectionism, intolerance of uncertainty, anxiety symptoms, and suicidal ideation and expand our understanding of the development of suicidal ideation. Moreover, the protective role of trait mindfulness implies that promoting trait mindfulness may be useful for interventions and preventions of suicidal ideation. Preregistration: This study is not preregistered.