The Role of Motivational Moderators in Suicidal Ideation Among Adolescents and Young Adults: A Scoping Review

Abstract

Objective: This scoping review aimed to map empirical evidence on motivational moderators within the Integrated MotivationalVolitional (IMV) model that influence the transition from entrapment to suicidal ideation among adolescents and young adults. Methods: This scoping review was conducted using the framework proposed by Arksey and O’Malley and refined by Levac et al, and was reported in accordance with the PRISMA extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR). A literature search was conducted in Scopus, PubMed/MEDLINE, and CINAHL from October to November 2025. Studies were selected using the Population, Concept, and Context framework: adolescents and young adults experiencing suicidal ideation or psychological distress; entrapment and motivational moderators within the IMV model; and any setting in which these variables were measured. Eligible studies were empirical articles published in English between 2015 and 2025. Data were extracted using a standardized extraction form and synthesized descriptively and narratively. Results: A total of 10 studies were included in the review. The findings showed that motivational moderators shaped the relationship between entrapment and suicidal ideation in different ways. Loneliness, perceived burdensomeness, and thwarted belongingness generally intensified the entrapment–suicidal ideation pathway, although findings for interpersonal needs were mixed across studies. In contrast, reasons for living, meaning in life, and resilience appeared to buffer the psychological impact of entrapment. Positive future thinking showed a more complex role, as unrealistic future thinking was associated with stronger suicidal ideation in one study. Mental well-being did not consistently moderate the relationship between entrapment and later ideational outcomes. Conclusion: This review indicates that suicidal ideation among adolescents and young adults is shaped by multiple interpersonal, cognitive, emotional, and existential moderators within the motivational phase of the IMV model. The findings support the relevance of the IMV framework for understanding the entrapment-to-suicidal ideation pathway, while also highlighting inconsistent evidence, heterogeneous samples, and limited longitudinal research. Further studies using robust longitudinal designs are needed to clarify how motivational moderators operate over time and inform targeted suicide prevention strategies.