Background. Suicide phenomenon among young generation has become a leading cause of death especially among adolescents. In Asian countries, suicidal rate is at an alarming state in which it has contributed around 60% of the world suicide cases. In order to prevent suicidal behavior, suicidal ideation need to be investigated as it happened prior any suicidal behavior. Therefore, identifying the roots of suicidal ideation are vital. Suicidal ideation is the thought of killing oneself which is often related to the social environment and self-factor. Thus, this study aimed to investigate the relationships between paternal approval, self-efficacy and suicidal ideation among adolescents. Specifically, the mediating effect of self-efficacy on the relationship between paternal approval and suicidal ideation was examined based on the Social Cognitive Theory. Social Cognitive Theory revealed that the social environments impact our cognitive abilities and behavioral outcomes where fathers are having a greater impact on adolescents nowadays. Taken together, this study hypothesized (a) positive correlation between paternal approval and self-efficacy, (b) negative correlation between self-efficacy and suicidal ideation, (c) negative correlation between paternal approval and suicidal ideation, and lastly (d) the relationship between paternal approval and suicidal ideation would be mediated by self-efficacy.

Methods. This study used a cross-sectional research design where a total of 682 school-going adolescents were recruited. Multistage cluster sampling was used to recruit the participants where self-administered questionnaires were distributed and collected on the same day. The participants were aged between 14 to 17 years old. Paternal approval was measured using the Network of Relationships – Relationship Quality Version subscale. Meanwhile, adolescents’ self-efficacy was measured using the General Self-Efficacy Scale. Lastly, suicidal ideation was assessed using the Negative subscale of the Positive and Negative Suicide Ideation Inventory. For analysis, correlation between paternal approval, self-efficacy and suicidal ideation among adolescents was analyzed using Pearson’s Correlation. Meanwhile, the mediating effect of self-efficacy on the relationship between paternal approval and suicidal ideation among Malaysian adolescents was tested using SPSS macro by Preacher and Hayes.

Results. This study indicated significant correlations between paternal approval, self-efficacy and suicidal ideation among adolescents. Negative correlation was found between paternal approval and suicidal ideation as well as between self-efficacy and suicidal ideation. These findings implied that adolescents who gained more approval from their father and had a higher level of self-efficacy were less likely to have suicidal thoughts.  On the other hand, positive correlation was found between paternal approval and self-efficacy which demonstrated that fathers who gave more approval to their children will develop children with higher sense of self-efficacy. For the mediation model, self-efficacy successfully mediated the relationship between paternal approval and adolescents’ suicidal ideation. The findings implied that paternal approval is important in adolescents’ life as it is able to increase adolescents’ self-efficacy which in turn help to reduce the tendency of having suicidal thoughts.

Conclusions. This study has identified two important factors namely paternal approval and self-efficacy that were significantly correlated with adolescents’ suicidal ideation. Adolescents are less likely to develop suicidal thoughts when their father imposes less restrictions and give more supports to what they want to do in life. Gaining high approval from fathers also helps in increasing adolescents’ level of self-efficacy. Therefore, intervention dealing with adolescents’ suicidal ideation should include parenting education for parents especially for fathers and also enhancing adolescents’ self-efficacy.

Added-Values. Research on suicide is a sensitive topic especially in Malaysia as there are still taboos regarding suicidal thoughts. The society believes that discussing on suicidal topic will implant suicidal ideas into someone. Consequently, this topic is less investigated in Malaysia. By conducting this research, significant contribution was made to the field of Psychology in Malaysia and awareness about the importance of discussing suicide related matters in Malaysia was also created. Moreover, theoretical implication was found where this study supported the Social Cognitive Theory where both social and personal factor namely paternal approval and self-efficacy are important in reducing suicidal thoughts among adolescents. This study also provides insight about the importance of father’s role, which is still a new field in Malaysia.

Keywords: Adolescents, parental approval, self-efficacy, suicidal ideation