Health Psychology Research / HPR / Online First / DOI: 10.14440/hpr.0038
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RESEARCH ARTICLE

The Moderating Effect of Academic Stress on the Relationship between Self-esteem, Loneliness, Personality Traits, Academic Procrastination, and Suicidality among University Students in Jordan

Ayman M. Hamdan-Mansour1* ,  Manar A. Bani-Hani2 ,  Ahmad N. Alshibi3 ,  Raneem A. Hamdan-Mansour4 ,  Ayham K. Mahmoud5 ,  Ayat K. Hussein6 ,  Lily Marmash7 ,  Jihad Al Shuaibi8 ,  Laith A. Hamdan Mansour5
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1 Department of Community Health Nursing, School of Nursing, The University of Jordan, Amman 11942, Jordan
2 Department of Nursing, Faculty of Nursing, Alzaytoonah University of Jordan (ZUJ), Amman 11942, Jordan
3 Department of Education, Cambridge Education College, Amman 11031, Jordan
4 Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, The University of Jordan, Amman 11942, Jordan
5 Department of Emergency University Hospital, Amman 11942, Jordan
6 Intensive Care Unit, Prince Hamza Hospital, Ministry of Health, Amman 11196, Jordan
7 Department of Community Health, School of Nursing, The University of Jordan, Amman 11942, Jordan
8 Department of European Languages, School of Foreign Languages, The University of Jordan, Amman 11942, Jordan
HPR, e81240015 https://doi.org/10.14440/hpr.0038
Submitted: 15 April 2025 | Accepted: 4 June 2025 | Published: 23 June 2025
© 2025 by the Author(s). This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution -Noncommercial 4.0 International License (CC-by the license) ( https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ )
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Abstract

Background

Several factors contribute to psychosocial disturbances among university students, which may lead to suicidality. There is a bidirectional relationship between academic and psychological well-being that warrants further investigation.

Objective

This study aims to examine the moderating effect of academic stress on the relationship between self-esteem, loneliness, personality traits, academic procrastination, and suicidality among university students in Jordan.

Methods

A convenience sample of 440 university students was recruited for a study employing a cross-sectional, correlational design. Participants completed an online self-administered questionnaire composed of six validated instruments, each assessing one of the following constructs: academic anxiety, loneliness, academic procrastination, personality dysfunction, self-esteem, and suicidality.

Results

The analysis showed that 25.0% of the students were at greater risk of suicide. Students demonstrated moderate levels of procrastination, moderate to high levels of self-esteem, moderate academic anxiety, low to moderate levels of global personality dysfunctions, and low to moderate levels of loneliness. Suicide risk was significantly and positively associated with procrastination, academic anxiety, loneliness, and overall personality dysfunction but not significantly associated with self-esteem. Academic stress had a significant moderating effect on the relationship between psychological factors and suicidality after controlling for demographic and personal characteristics (F[23, 416] = 7.52, p<0.001; R2 = 0.306).

Conclusion

Suicide is a significant psychological problem among university students and can be exacerbated by academic and psychological-related factors. There is a pressing need to integrate screening and early detection programs for suicide risk and to establish professional psychological counseling services within academic institutions.

Keywords
Suicidality
Loneliness
Academic Anxiety
Academic Procrastination
Self-esteem
Personality Dysfunction
University Students
Jordan
Funding
None.
Conflict of interest
The authors declare no conflict of interest for the conduc¬tion, production, and publication of this study.
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Health Psychology Research, Electronic ISSN: 2420-8124 Published by Health Psychology Research
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