Transdiagnostic psychological mechanisms like hopelessness and repetitive negative thinking associate with suicidal ideation in studentsIdentifying the psychological factors linked to suicidal ideation in students

IntroductionConventional diagnostic categories may not fully capture the psychological processes associated with suicidal ideation among university students. This systematic review synthesized recent evidence on candidate transdiagnostic psychological mechanisms, distinguishing ideation-specific findings from broader suicide-related outcomes.MethodsScopus, Web of Science, PubMed, and PsycINFO via EBSCOhost were searched for peer-reviewed observational studies published between January 1, 2021, and December 18, 2025. Study selection followed PRISMA 2020, and methodological quality was assessed using design-specific Joanna Briggs Institute checklists. A narrative synthesis distinguished separately assessed suicidal ideation from complementary findings involving broad death/self-harm indicators, suicide-related cognitions, and composite suicide-risk scores. Classification depended on the outcome analyzed rather than instrument length.ResultsOf 327 records identified, 68 studies were included; 58 were cross-sectional and 10 used longitudinal, prospective, or ecological momentary assessment designs. Findings were organized into cognitive–affective, emotional, behavioral, interpersonal–contextual, and protective domains. Ideation-specific analysis reported associations with hopelessness, repetitive negative thinking, perfectionistic concerns, depressive symptoms, perceived burdensomeness, and entrapment. Associations varied by outcome definition, statistical adjustment, and study design. Inverse or conditional associations involving psychological and interpersonal resources were reported in selected analysis. Complementary findings concerned broader suicide-related outcomes and were interpreted separately rather than as independent replication of ideation-specific associations.DiscussionThe evidence identifies candidate psychological processes for further investigation, but predominantly cross-sectional designs and heterogeneous outcome measures limit causal and temporal interpretation. The proposed framework organizes observational findings rather than validating a causal model. Future prospective research should distinguish outcome constructs, address confounding, and test whether modifying candidate processes reduces suicidal ideation.