The influence of environmental air pollution on suicidal ideation among university students: A nationwide representative study in China

iScience. 2026 Mar 11;29(5):115338. doi: 10.1016/j.isci.2026.115338. eCollection 2026 May 15.

ABSTRACT

While people are exposed to various air pollutants, there is limited research on the combined influence of multiple pollutants on suicide. Participants consisted of 5,025 university students, who were selected across 22 universities in 20 cities of China. Multilevel logistic regression models were used to examine associations between different measures of air pollution and suicidal ideation (SI). Significant dose-response relationships were confirmed between city-level concentrations of SO₂ (β: 0.1042), fine particulate matter (PM_2.5) levels (β: 0.9343), air pollution days (β: 0.7980), and city-level SI prevalence. A structural equation model was used to explore the possible social mechanisms underlying these assertions. It showed that SO₂ and air pollution days exert indirect effects through mental stress. The findings highlight the critical need for stronger environmental protection policies and the development of effective mental health strategies and interventions to reduce the environmental burden on mental health.

PMID:42058891 | PMC:PMC13122680 | DOI:10.1016/j.isci.2026.115338