Perceived stressfulness mediates the effects of subjective social support and negative coping style on suicide risk in Chinese patients with major depressive disorder

•Subjective social support, but not objective social support, was associated with suicide risk.•Negative (but not positive) coping style was associated with suicide risk.•MDD patients with suicide risk had high level of perceived stressfulness.•Perceived stressfulness can mediate the effects of subjective social support and negative coping style on suicide risk. Risk factors for suicide have been widely investigated in patients with major depressive disorder (MDD); However, far less research has been conducted on protective factors for suicide. The diagnosis of MDD and suicide risk were evaluated by the Mini‐International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI). Social support and coping behaviors were assessed by the Social Support Rate Scale (SSRS) and Simplified Coping Style Questionnaire (SCSQ), respectively. Life stressors were captured by the Life Events Scale (LES). Severity of depression was assessed by 17-item Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAMD-17). Logistic regression analysis and path analyses were used to test the association of protective factors, risk factors, life stress and suicide risk. Patients with suicide risk showed a significantly lower level of subjective social support (adjusted P