Exploring the relationship between "feeling seen" and suicidality in college students

The present study aimed to address the rising rates of suicidal behaviors and depression among Gen-Z college students by introducing the construct of Visibility (or "feeling seen") as an influential psychological factor. Given the distinctive challenges of the Covid-19 pandemic and the pervasive digital landscape, this study aimed to develop and validate a novel measure, the Drexel Visibility Inventory (DVI). A sample of 199 college students in the US completed an online survey including the DVI, and validated measure of suicidality (SBQ-R), depression (PHQ-9), and perceived social support (MSPSS). An exploratory factor analysis, descriptive statistics, and Pearson correlations were conducted to examine the psychometric properties of the DVI and its associations with depression, suicidality, and social support. The DVI demonstrated excellent internal consistency ([alpha] = .89) and a primarily unidimensional factor structure, with a secondary factor relating to social media visibility. The DVI had a strong correlation with the MSPSS (r =.769, p <.001), supporting the convergent validity of this measure. Highly significant correlations were found for the DVI and both the PHQ-9 (r = -.552, p < .001) and the SBQ-R (r = -.358, p <.001), indicating the strong association between visibility and both depression and suicidality. Steiger's Z test indicated that the DVI was significantly more strongly associated with depression and suicidality than the MSPSS (z = 4.460, p < .001; and z = 3.866, p < .001, respectively), supporting the uniqueness and specificity of visibility as compared to social support. The findings in this study suggest that perceived visibility is a distinct and measurable psychological construct meaningfully associated with depression and suicidality in Gen-Z college students. The DVI and the construct of visibility are a promising avenue towards understanding the complex interplay of factors affecting the mental health and wellbeing of individuals in the ever-evolving contemporary landscape.