Real-time Associations Between Psychological States and Context in University Students with Suicidal Ideation: An Ecological Momentary Assessment Study

Suicidal ideation (SI) is dynamic and linked to emotion regulation difficulties that may be reflected in associations between momentary psychological states and context. In a 2-week ecological momentary assessment (EMA) study, 476 students reported passive daily SI, momentary psychological states (affect, stress, tiredness, concentration difficulties) and contexts four times per day. Multilevel network analysis compared contemporaneous, temporal, and between-person networks across three groups: one without SI or psychopathology (No-MD/SI), and two with low and high 14-day passive SI (Low- and High-SI). Low- and High-SI groups showed more temporally self-reinforcing negative affect and weaker affect-context connections. No-MD/SI students showed stronger positive affect recovery following negative affect. High-SI students spent less time with loved ones and were more likely to engage in conversation after stress than after positive emotions. Findings suggest that passive SI is associated with greater negative emotion rigidity and a shift in social connectedness from enjoyment to distress-driven coping.