This study examines how certain maladaptive cognitive schemas—such as feelings of defectiveness, failure, dependence, vulnerability to harm or illness, social isolation, incompetence, and enmeshment/undeveloped self—can predict suicidal thoughts and behaviors in adolescents during the COVID-19 pandemic. The research, conducted from 2020 to 2022, included 58 adolescents (61% male, 39% female), all of whom had at least 9 years of schooling. The Young Cognitive Schema Questionnaire (YSQ-S3) and the Beck Scale for Suicidal Ideations (BSSI) were used to collect data while ensuring ethical guidelines were followed. A multiple linear regression model was used to assess the data. The findings indicated that schemas related to defectiveness, vulnerability to harm, and dependence/incompetence were significant predictors of suicidal behaviors. However, no significant predictive value was found for failure, enmeshment/undeveloped self, or social isolation. These results point to the need for further research to further examine these relationships.
