Optimistic Explanatory Style as a Moderator of the Association Between Negative Life Events and Suicide Ideation

Crisis ◽  
2009 ◽  
Vol 30 (1) ◽  
pp. 48-53 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jameson K. Hirsch ◽  
Karen Wolford ◽  
Steven M. LaLonde ◽  
Lisa Brunk ◽  
Amanda Parker-Morris
Keyword(s):  
Life Events ◽  
Suicide Ideation ◽  
Explanatory Style ◽  
Negative Life Events ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Negative Life Event ◽  
Student Sample ◽  
Traumatic Life Events ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Suicidal Thoughts And Behaviors

Background: Individuals experiencing negative and potentially traumatic life events are at increased risk for suicidal thoughts and behaviors; however, suicidal outcomes are not inevitable. Individuals who attribute negative life events to external, transient, and specific factors, rather than internal, stable, and global self-characteristics, may experience fewer deleterious outcomes, including suicidal behavior. Aims: This study examines the moderating effect of explanatory style on the relationship between negative life experiences and suicide ideation in a college student sample. Methods: A total of 138 participants (73% female) were recruited from a rural, Eastern college and completed a self-report psychosocial assessment. Results: Optimistic explanatory style mitigates the influence of negative and potentially traumatic life events on thoughts of suicide, above and beyond the effects of hopelessness and depression. Conclusions: Beliefs about the origin, pervasiveness, and potential recurrence of a negative life event may affect psychological outcomes. Optimistic explanatory style was associated with reduced suicide ideation, whereas pessimistic explanatory style was associated with increased thoughts of suicide. Optimistic reframing of negative life events for clients may have treatment implications for the prevention of suicidal activity.

scholarly journals The World Dangerous it is – The Scrambled Sentences Task for Negative Life Events

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Felix Würtz ◽  
Simon Edward Blackwell ◽  
Jürgen Margraf ◽  
Marcella Woud
Keyword(s):  
Life Events ◽  
Convergent Validity ◽  
Negative Life Events ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Negative Life Event ◽  
Divergent Validity ◽  
Retest Reliability ◽  
Online Study ◽  
Symptoms Of Depression ◽  
Test Retest Reliability

The Scrambled Sentences Task (SST) is a robust measure of interpretational processes in psychopathology. However, there is little evidence of its utility as a measure of dysfunctional appraisals (DAs) in relation to traumatic or negative life events. We therefore developed a novel SST in the context of trauma and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), and examined its psychometric properties including con- and divergent validity and 2-week test-retest reliability via an online study. Our sample (T1: N = 214, T2: N = 145) included participants who reported a potentially traumatic negative life event that was still experienced as distressing. We found high correlations between the novel SST and both PTSD-related symptoms and self-report measures of DAs, indicating good convergent validity. Further, both internal consistency and retest-reliability were good. However, we also found large correlations with symptoms of depression, and moderate correlations with symptoms of other disorders (e.g., eating disorders), indicating limitations to the SST’s divergent validity. Finally, the SST did not explain unique variance in PTSD-related symptoms above self-report measures. Overall, the results demonstrate the promise of the SST being a valid and reliable tool to assess DAs in the context of traumatic life events. Further research should aim to improve the specificity with which the SST assesses trauma-related DAs and investigate the relationship between the SST and self-report measures of DAs.

The Relationship Between Negative Life Events and Suicidal Behavior

Crisis ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 34 (4) ◽  
pp. 233-241 ◽  
Author(s):  
Catherine A. Rowe ◽  
Kristin L. Walker ◽  
Peter C. Britton ◽  
Jameson K. Hirsch
Keyword(s):  
Life Events ◽  
Suicidal Behavior ◽  
Negative Life Events ◽  
Psychological Needs ◽  
Basic Psychological Needs ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Suicide Behaviors ◽  
The Relationship

Background: Individuals who experience negative life events may be at increased risk for suicidal behavior. Intrapersonal characteristics, such as basic psychological needs, however, may buffer this association. Aims: To assess the potential moderating role of overall basic psychological needs, and the separate components of autonomy, competence, and relatedness, on the association between negative life events and suicidal behavior. Method: Our sample of 439 college students (311 females, 71%) completed the following self-report surveys: Life Events Scale, Basic Psychological Needs Scale, Beck Depression Inventory – II, and the Suicide Behaviors Questionnaire-Revised. Results: In support of our hypotheses, negative life events were associated with greater levels of suicidal ideation and attempts, and satisfaction of basic psychological needs, including autonomy, relatedness, and competence, significantly moderated this relationship, over and above the effects of the covariates of age, sex, and depressive symptoms. Conclusions: Suicidal behavior associated with the experience of negative life events is not inevitable. Therapeutically bolstering competence, autonomy, and relatedness may be an important suicide prevention strategy for individuals experiencing life stressors.

The associations between family characteristics and depressive symptoms in older adults: a community-based survey in rural China

2012 ◽  
Vol 24 (8) ◽  
pp. 1226-1234 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yanhong Gong ◽  
Xiaopiao Wen ◽  
Chaoping Guan ◽  
Zhiqing Wang ◽  
Yuan Liang
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Life Events ◽  
Rural China ◽  
Economic Status ◽  
Negative Life Events ◽  
Family Members ◽  
Family Characteristics ◽  
Negative Life Event ◽  
The Past

ABSTRACTBackground: The aim of the current study was to investigate the associations between family characteristics and depressive symptoms, and provide new evidence and recommendations for prevention and intervention in the depressive symptoms of older adults.Methods: The study was a cross-sectional survey conducted door-to-door, utilizing a sample of 1,317 individuals aged 60 years and above in rural China. The five family characteristic variables recorded were: living with spouse, living with descendant, support of family members, self-reported family economic status in the previous year, and family-related negative life events that occurred anytime in the past with a continuous psychological effect during the past 12 months. Gender, age, years of schooling, and self-rated physical health status were taken as potential confounders. Univariable and multivariable logistic regression models were used to examine independent effects on depressive symptoms.Results: In addition to the potential confounders, only family-related negative life events, support of family members, and self-reported family economic status had significant effects on depressive symptoms in older adults. Experiencing a family-related negative life event was the most significant variable (OR = 11.70, 95% CI: 7.72–17.73), the second was support of family members (OR = 6.93, 95% CI: 3.26–14.70), while family economic status was less important than support of family members (OR = 2.38, 95% CI: 1.08–5.25).Conclusion: This study, from the perspective of family characteristics on depressive symptoms in older adults, showed a strong correlation between being exposed to harmful family environments and depressive symptoms among the elderly. Efforts to address family risk factors and strengthen family cohesiveness deserve a higher priority, given the importance of these factors, compared with other efforts such as promoting economic development.

scholarly journals Dissociative Experiences Mediate the Relationship Between Traumatic Life Events and Types of Skin Picking. Findings From Non-clinical Sample

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joanna Kłosowska ◽  
Rachela Antosz-Rekucka ◽  
Alina Kałużna-Wielobób ◽  
Katarzyna Prochwicz
Keyword(s):  
Life Events ◽  
Clinical Sample ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Skin Picking ◽  
Mediation Analyses ◽  
Dissociative Experiences ◽  
Traumatic Life Events ◽  
Path Analyses ◽  
Excoriation Disorder ◽  
The Relationship

Aim: Skin-picking (excoriation) disorder is considered as a form of maladaptive coping methods used by individuals who have difficulties in applying more adaptive strategies. Skin-picking development has been suggested to be preceded by traumatic life events. Dissociative symptoms have been reported as experienced by skin-picking sufferers during picking episodes. The purpose of the study was to examine whether the link between trauma and automatic type of skin-picking is mediated by the frequency of dissociative experiences, and whether the COVID-19 pandemic conditions have changed this relationship in any way.Methods: The study sample consisted of 594 adults (76% women) aged from 18 to 60. Traumatic life events, dissociative experiences, and types of skin-picking (focused vs. automatic) were assessed with self-report questionnaires. Mediation analyses and multigroup path analyses were carried out.Results: Dissociative experiences partially mediated the link between traumatic events and both types of skin-picking. The model was robust considering the conditions in which survey was filled out (pre-pandemic vs. pandemic).Conclusions: Traumatic life events and dissociative experiences are associated with both automatic and focused skin-picking regardless of pandemic conditions. Further studies are needed to understand mechanisms underlying the relationship between dissociation and skin-picking styles.

scholarly journals Every Night and Every Morn: Effect of Variation in CLOCK Gene on Depression Depends on Exposure to Early and Recent Stress

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dorka Gyorik ◽  
Nora Eszlari ◽  
Zsofia Gal ◽  
Dora Torok ◽  
Daniel Baksa ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Linkage Disequilibrium ◽  
Life Events ◽  
Negative Life Events ◽  
Population Sample ◽  
Brief Symptom Inventory ◽  
Additive Models ◽  
Outcome Variable ◽  
Childhood Adversities ◽  
Increased Risk

The role of circadian dysregulation is increasingly acknowledged in the background of depressive symptoms, and is also a promising treatment target. Similarly, stress shows a complex relationship with the circadian system. The CLOCK gene, encoding a key element in circadian regulation has been implicated in previous candidate variant studies in depression with contradictory findings, and only a few such studies considered the interacting effects of stress. We investigated the effect of CLOCK variation with a linkage-disequilibrium-based clumping method, in interaction with childhood adversities and recent negative life events, on two phenotypes of depression, lifetime depression and current depressive symptoms in a general population sample.Methods: Participants in NewMood study completed questionnaires assessing childhood adversities and recent negative life events, the Brief Symptom Inventory to assess current depressive symptoms, provided data on lifetime depression, and were genotyped for 1054 SNPs in the CLOCK gene, 370 of which survived quality control and were entered into linear and logistic regression models with current depressive symptoms and lifetime depression as the outcome variable, and childhood adversities or recent life events as interaction variables followed by a linkage disequilibrium-based clumping process to identify clumps of SNPs with a significant main or interaction effect.Results: No significant clumps with a main effect were found. In interaction with recent life events a significant clump containing 94 SNPs with top SNP rs6825994 for dominant and rs6850524 for additive models on current depression was identified, while in interaction with childhood adversities on current depressive symptoms, two clumps, both containing 9 SNPs were found with top SNPs rs6828454 and rs711533.Conclusion: Our findings suggest that CLOCK contributes to depressive symptoms, but via mediating the effects of early adversities and recent stressors. Given the increasing burden on circadian rhythmicity in the modern lifestyle and our expanding insight into the contribution of circadian disruption in depression especially as a possible mediator of stress, our results may pave the way for identifying those who would be at an increased risk for depressogenic effects of circadian dysregulation in association with stress as well as new molecular targets for intervention in stress-related psychopathologies in mood disorders.

scholarly journals Assessment of Undergraduates’ Real-World Outcomes of Critical Thinking in Everyday Situations

2017 ◽  
Vol 120 (4) ◽  
pp. 707-720 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amanda R. Franco ◽  
Patrício S. Costa ◽  
Heather A. Butler ◽  
Leandro S. Almeida
Keyword(s):  
Critical Thinking ◽  
Life Events ◽  
Real World ◽  
Cognitive Skills ◽  
Negative Life Events ◽  
Self Report ◽  
First Year Students ◽  
Portuguese Version ◽  
Original Proposal ◽  
The Impact

Critical thinking is a kind of “good” thinking that integrates a set of cognitive skills and dispositions to use those skills with knowledge to increase the chances of success in academic settings, job market, and daily life. The impact of critical thinking on life events, in face of everyday decisions and challenges, is still unclear, and further research is needed. In this exploratory study, a sample of 230 first-year students of a Bachelor’s Degree or a Master’s Degree in Portugal completed an experimental Portuguese version of the Real-World Outcomes, a self-report inventory measuring everyday negative life events that are mediated by a lack of critical thinking. Based on exploratory factor analysis results and theoretical premises, changes were made to the Portuguese version of the inventory that was administered, and items were aggregated into six dimensions, creating a new version that is more familiar to Portuguese young adults in college. This original proposal of the inventory presents six types of negative life events resulting from a lack of critical thinking: health neglect, mismanagement, slackness, poor impulse control, academic negligence, and rashness. Both limitations and future potentialities of this version are presented.

For better or worse: Negative life events and sibling relationships

2012 ◽  
Vol 27 (3) ◽  
pp. 330-348 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marieke Voorpostel ◽  
Tanja van der Lippe ◽  
Henk Flap
Keyword(s):  
Life Events ◽  
Sibling Relationships ◽  
Negative Life Events ◽  
Physical Illness ◽  
Psychological Problems ◽  
Negative Life Event ◽  
Financial Problems ◽  
Life Event ◽  
The Past ◽  
The Law

Using Dutch data ( N = 6630), this article examines how sibling relationships (including full biological, half- and adopted siblings) differed for persons who experienced a negative life event (divorce, physical illness, psychological problems, addiction, problems with the law, victimization of abuse or financial problems) and those who did not. Results showed that people who experienced serious negative life events in the past often had less active, less supportive and more strained sibling ties. The group that experienced a physical illness formed an exception, showing more supportive and active sibling ties, but also higher levels of conflict. Results suggest inequality between persons who have experienced negative life events and those who have not in terms of access to positive and supportive sibling relationships.

scholarly journals Disentangling the causal inter-relationship between negative life events and depressive symptoms in women: a longitudinal twin study

2012 ◽  
Vol 42 (9) ◽  
pp. 1801-1814 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Wichers ◽  
H. H. Maes ◽  
N. Jacobs ◽  
C. Derom ◽  
E. Thiery ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Life Events ◽  
Longitudinal Design ◽  
Negative Life Events ◽  
Model Fitting ◽  
Negative Life Event ◽  
Life Event ◽  
Specific Effects ◽  
Best Fitting ◽  
Longitudinal Twin Study

BackgroundNegative life events are strongly associated with the development of depression. However, the etiologic relationship between life events and depression is complex. Evidence suggests that life events can cause depression, and depression increases the risk for life events. Additionally, third factors influencing both phenotypes may be involved. In this work we sought to disentangle these relationships using a genetically informative longitudinal design.MethodAdult female twins (n=536, including 281 twin pairs) were followed up for measurements of negative life event exposure and depressive symptoms. Four follow-ups were completed, each approximately 3 months apart. Model fitting was carried out using the Mx program.ResultsThe best-fitting model included causal paths from life events to depressive symptoms for genetic and shared environmental risk factors, whereas paths from depressive symptoms to life events were apparent for shared environmental factors. Shared latent influence on both phenotypes was found for individual-specific effects.ConclusionsLife events and depressive symptoms have complex inter-relationships that differ across sources of variance. The results of the model, if replicated, indicate that reducing life event exposure would reduce depressive symptoms and that lowering depressive symptoms would decrease the occurrence of negative life events.

scholarly journals Examining Response to Negative Life Events Through Fitness Tracker Data

2021 ◽  
Vol 3 ◽  
Author(s):  
Louis Faust ◽  
Keith Feldman ◽  
Suwen Lin ◽  
Stephen Mattingly ◽  
Sidney D'Mello ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Physical Health ◽  
Coping Strategies ◽  
Life Events ◽  
Negative Life Events ◽  
The United States ◽  
Determinants Of Health ◽  
Negative Life Event ◽  
Support Vector ◽  
Life Event

Negative life events, such as the death of a loved one, are an unavoidable part of life. These events can be overwhelmingly stressful and may lead to the development of mental health disorders. To mitigate these adverse developments, prior literature has utilized measures of psychological responses to negative life events to better understand their effects on mental health. However, psychological changes represent only one aspect of an individual's potential response. We posit measuring additional dimensions of health, such as physical health, may also be beneficial, as physical health itself may be affected by negative life events and measuring its response could provide context to changes in mental health. Therefore, the primary aim of this work was to quantify how an individual's physical health changes in response to negative life events by testing for deviations in their physiological and behavioral state (PB-state). After capturing post-event, PB-state responses, our second aim sought to contextualize changes within known factors of psychological response to negative life events, namely coping strategies. To do so, we utilized a cohort of professionals across the United States monitored for 1 year and who experienced a negative life event while under observation. Garmin Vivosmart-3 devices provided a multidimensional representation of one's PB-state by collecting measures of resting heart rate, physical activity, and sleep. To test for deviations in PB-state following negative life events, One-Class Support Vector Machines were trained on a window of time prior to the event, which established a PB-state baseline. The model then evaluated participant's PB-state on the day of the life event and each day that followed, assigning each day a level of deviance relative to the participant's baseline. Resulting response curves were then examined in association with the use of various coping strategies using Bayesian gamma-hurdle regression models. The results from our objectives suggest that physical determinants of health also deviate in response to negative life events and that these deviations can be mitigated through different coping strategies. Taken together, these observations stress the need to examine physical determinants of health alongside psychological determinants when investigating the effects of negative life events.

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