Published

2026-02-12

Cognitive Predictors of Suicidal Ideation in Ecuadorian Medical and Nursing Students: The Roles of Perceived Loneliness and Life Satisfaction

Predictores Cognitivos de la Ideación Suicida en Estudiantes de Medicina y Enfermería Ecuatorianos: El Papel de la Soledad Percibida y la Satisfacción Vital

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.15446/rcp.v35n1.117861

Keywords:

loneliness, life satisfaction, suicidal ideation, medical students, nursing students (en)
soledad, satisfacción vital, ideación suicida, estudiantes de medicina, estudiantes de enfermería (es)

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Background: This study investigates the relationships between perceived loneliness, life satisfaction, and suicide ideation (SI) in Ecuadorian medical and nursing students, aiming to identify cognitive predictors of si using structural equation modelling (SEM). Methods: A cross-sectional, quantitative, descriptive, correlational and explanatory study was conducted with 618 medical and nursing students from four universities in Tungurahua, Ecuador. Results: The results indicate that si is moderately and positively associated with perceived loneliness (r= .581; p < .001), and moderately and negatively associated with life satisfaction (r= -.408; p < .001). Additionally, perceived loneliness and life satisfaction are slightly and negatively related. sem analysis showed that perceived loneliness (R2= .252) is a stronger predictor of SI than life satisfaction (R2= .060), but their combined explanatory power is significant, accounting for 39.2% of the variance in SI. Conclusions: This study highlights the importance of perceived loneliness and life satisfaction as cognitive predictors of si among university students.

Objetivo: Este estudio investiga las relaciones entre la soledad percibida, la satisfacción vital y la ideación suicida (IS) en estudiantes de medicina y enfermería ecuatorianos, con el objetivo de identificar predictores cognitivos de la IS mediante modelos de ecuaciones estructurales (SEM). Métodos: Se realizó un estudio transversal, cuantitativo, descriptivo, correlacional y explicado con 618 estudiantes de medicina y enfermería de cuatro universidades de Tungurahua, Ecuador. Resultados: Los resultados indican que la IS está moderada y positivamente asociada con la soledad percibida (r= .581; p < .001) y moderada y negativamente asociada con la satisfacción vital (r= -.408; p < .001). Además, la soledad percibida y la satisfacción vital están ligera y negativamente relacionadas. El análisis sem mostró que la soledad percibida (R2= .252) es un predictor más fuerte de la IS que la satisfacción vital (R2= .060), pero su poder explicativo combinado es significativo, lo que representa el 39.2% de la varianza en la IS. Conclusiones: Este estudio destaca la importancia de la soledad percibida y la satisfacción vital como predictores cognitivos de la soledad entre estudiantes universitarios.

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How to Cite

APA

Moreta-Herrera, R., Gordón-Villalba, P., Rodas, J. A., Mejía, F., Mantilla, C., Ruíz, Álvaro, Mayorga-Ortíz, W. & Mayorga-Ortíz, D. (2026). Cognitive Predictors of Suicidal Ideation in Ecuadorian Medical and Nursing Students: The Roles of Perceived Loneliness and Life Satisfaction. Revista Colombiana de Psicología, 35(1), 47–62. https://doi.org/10.15446/rcp.v35n1.117861

ACM

[1]
Moreta-Herrera, R., Gordón-Villalba, P., Rodas, J.A., Mejía, F., Mantilla, C., Ruíz, Álvaro, Mayorga-Ortíz, W. and Mayorga-Ortíz, D. 2026. Cognitive Predictors of Suicidal Ideation in Ecuadorian Medical and Nursing Students: The Roles of Perceived Loneliness and Life Satisfaction. Revista Colombiana de Psicología. 35, 1 (Feb. 2026), 47–62. DOI:https://doi.org/10.15446/rcp.v35n1.117861.

ACS

(1)
Moreta-Herrera, R.; Gordón-Villalba, P.; Rodas, J. A.; Mejía, F.; Mantilla, C.; Ruíz, Álvaro; Mayorga-Ortíz, W.; Mayorga-Ortíz, D. Cognitive Predictors of Suicidal Ideation in Ecuadorian Medical and Nursing Students: The Roles of Perceived Loneliness and Life Satisfaction. Rev. colomb. psicol. 2026, 35, 47-62.

ABNT

MORETA-HERRERA, R.; GORDÓN-VILLALBA, P.; RODAS, J. A.; MEJÍA, F.; MANTILLA, C.; RUÍZ, Álvaro; MAYORGA-ORTÍZ, W.; MAYORGA-ORTÍZ, D. Cognitive Predictors of Suicidal Ideation in Ecuadorian Medical and Nursing Students: The Roles of Perceived Loneliness and Life Satisfaction. Revista Colombiana de Psicología, [S. l.], v. 35, n. 1, p. 47–62, 2026. DOI: 10.15446/rcp.v35n1.117861. Disponível em: https://revistas.unal.edu.co/index.php/psicologia/article/view/117861. Acesso em: 21 feb. 2026.

Chicago

Moreta-Herrera, Rodrigo, Paulina Gordón-Villalba, José A. Rodas, Fernanda Mejía, Cristina Mantilla, Álvaro Ruíz, William Mayorga-Ortíz, and Diego Mayorga-Ortíz. 2026. “Cognitive Predictors of Suicidal Ideation in Ecuadorian Medical and Nursing Students: The Roles of Perceived Loneliness and Life Satisfaction”. Revista Colombiana De Psicología 35 (1):47-62. https://doi.org/10.15446/rcp.v35n1.117861.

Harvard

Moreta-Herrera, R., Gordón-Villalba, P., Rodas, J. A., Mejía, F., Mantilla, C., Ruíz, Álvaro, Mayorga-Ortíz, W. and Mayorga-Ortíz, D. (2026) “Cognitive Predictors of Suicidal Ideation in Ecuadorian Medical and Nursing Students: The Roles of Perceived Loneliness and Life Satisfaction”, Revista Colombiana de Psicología, 35(1), pp. 47–62. doi: 10.15446/rcp.v35n1.117861.

IEEE

[1]
R. Moreta-Herrera, “Cognitive Predictors of Suicidal Ideation in Ecuadorian Medical and Nursing Students: The Roles of Perceived Loneliness and Life Satisfaction”, Rev. colomb. psicol., vol. 35, no. 1, pp. 47–62, Feb. 2026.

MLA

Moreta-Herrera, R., P. Gordón-Villalba, J. A. Rodas, F. Mejía, C. Mantilla, Álvaro Ruíz, W. Mayorga-Ortíz, and D. Mayorga-Ortíz. “Cognitive Predictors of Suicidal Ideation in Ecuadorian Medical and Nursing Students: The Roles of Perceived Loneliness and Life Satisfaction”. Revista Colombiana de Psicología, vol. 35, no. 1, Feb. 2026, pp. 47-62, doi:10.15446/rcp.v35n1.117861.

Turabian

Moreta-Herrera, Rodrigo, Paulina Gordón-Villalba, José A. Rodas, Fernanda Mejía, Cristina Mantilla, Álvaro Ruíz, William Mayorga-Ortíz, and Diego Mayorga-Ortíz. “Cognitive Predictors of Suicidal Ideation in Ecuadorian Medical and Nursing Students: The Roles of Perceived Loneliness and Life Satisfaction”. Revista Colombiana de Psicología 35, no. 1 (February 12, 2026): 47–62. Accessed February 21, 2026. https://revistas.unal.edu.co/index.php/psicologia/article/view/117861.

Vancouver

1.
Moreta-Herrera R, Gordón-Villalba P, Rodas JA, Mejía F, Mantilla C, Ruíz Álvaro, Mayorga-Ortíz W, Mayorga-Ortíz D. Cognitive Predictors of Suicidal Ideation in Ecuadorian Medical and Nursing Students: The Roles of Perceived Loneliness and Life Satisfaction. Rev. colomb. psicol. [Internet]. 2026 Feb. 12 [cited 2026 Feb. 21];35(1):47-62. Available from: https://revistas.unal.edu.co/index.php/psicologia/article/view/117861

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