Associations of Discrimination, Suicide Ideation Severity and Attempts, and Depressive Symptoms Among Sexual and Gender Minority Youth

Crisis ◽  
2020 ◽  
pp. 1-8
Author(s):  
Adeline Wyman Battalen ◽  
Ethan Mereish ◽  
Jennifer Putney ◽  
Christina M. Sellers ◽  
Melinda Gushwa ◽  
...  

Abstract. We examined the unique associations among discrimination, suicidal thoughts, suicide attempts, and depressive symptoms in a sample of sexual and gender minority (SGM) youth as well as interpersonal mediators of these associations. Participants included 94 SGM youth ( Mage = 18; SD = 2.88) recruited from SGM-specific drop-in centers. We used mediation analyses to test the mediating effects of perceived burdensomeness and thwarted belongingness on the associations between discrimination and suicidal ideation, suicide attempts, and depressive symptoms, accounting for childhood trauma and sociodemographic variables (age, gender identity, race, and sexual orientation). Within our nonclinical community sample of SGM youth, 49% reported a lifetime suicide attempt, 84% reported current suicide ideation, and 82% reported current depressive symptoms. Experiencing discrimination was associated with greater likelihood of suicide attempts and depressive symptoms, and greater perceived burdensomeness and thwarted belongingness, over and above the effects of childhood trauma and sociodemographic variables. Discrimination was indirectly associated with greater depressive symptoms through perceived burdensomeness and thwarted belongingness, and with greater severity of suicidal ideation through perceived burdensomeness. Findings suggest clinicians should assess for discrimination and include a focus on perceived burdensomeness and thwarted belongingness as targets of intervention for suicide and depression.

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hélène Landrault ◽  
Nemat Jaafari ◽  
Mohamed Amine ◽  
Gabriel Malka ◽  
Leila Selimbegovic ◽  
...  

Objective: The present study compared the ability of two contemporary theories of suicidal behavior—the interpersonal and escape theories of suicide—to predict suicidal ideation. The interpersonal theory proposes that the interaction of perceived burdensomeness and thwarted belongingness predicts suicidal ideation. The escape theory proposes that feelings of failure predict suicidal ideation and that escape motivation mediates this relationship. The present study intended to determine which of the two theories more successfully explains suicidal ideation. Method: A sample of 306 students from elite schools in Morocco (193 women, Mage = 21.21 years, predominantly Muslims) completed a questionnaire assessing feelings of failure and escape motivation, perceived burdensomeness and thwarted belongingness, suicide ideation, and control variables. Results: In line with previous research, separate tests revealed support for the two theories. Interestingly, when entered simultaneously in a multiple regression analysis, the two frameworks explained a unique and cumulative part of the variance in suicidal ideation. Moreover, the effects remained significant after controlling for past suicide attempts, depression, hopelessness, and stress. Conclusions: The findings suggest that combining the interpersonal and escape theories of suicide could help better explain the emergence of suicidal ideation among college students.


Crisis ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. 1-8
Author(s):  
Ethan H. Mereish ◽  
Brian A. Feinstein ◽  
Mary Rose Mamey ◽  
Jeremy T. Goldbach

Abstract. Background: Sexual and gender minority youth (SGMY) have heightened risk of suicidality; yet, we know little about their experiences when utilizing crisis services. Aims: The purpose of this study was to understand the characteristics and experiences of SGMY when in contact with SGMY-specific suicide crisis services. Method: Data were from 592 SGMY who contacted the most widely utilized national US SGMY-specific crisis services provider. Results: High rates of suicide ideation (65.2%) and attempts (31.9%) were documented, with gender minority youth endorsing higher rates of suicide attempts. Participants contacted the center by phone (57.8%) more than by online chat/text (42.2%). Participants reported discussing their sexual orientation (60.6%), gender identity (43.8%), and identity disclosure stress (56.6%) with counselors. Participants rated the crisis service as helpful. The counselors were perceived as warm, compassionate, and knowledgeable about common concerns for SGMY and they were likely to contact the crisis center again. Participants reported using chat/text over phone because it provided them with more confidentiality and privacy; however, phone contacts were rated more positively than text/chat. Limitations: The sample was predominately White and was not representative of the broader population of SGMY, limiting the generalizability of the results. Conclusion: SGMY reported positive experiences with a national SGMY-specific crisis service. The findings highlight the critical need for and utility of SGMY-specific suicide prevention crisis services.


2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 16-28
Author(s):  
Desy Ramadhani Harahap ◽  
Ilmi Amalia

Suicidal ideation in elderly is rarely a society’s concern even though elderly is the age group most vulnerable to suicide. This study was conducted to prove the effect of perceived burdensomeness, thwarted belongingness, religiosity, and demographic factors (gender and education level) on suicidal ideation in the elderly. The subjects of this study were 230 respondents aged 60 years and over who were obtained using accidental non-probability sampling techniques. The measuring instrument used were the adaptation and modification of the Geriatric Suicide Ideation Scale, the Interpersonal Needs Questionnaire, and the Centrality of Religiosity Scale. The validity test of the instrument was carried out using Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA), while the hypothesis testing was carried out using multiple regression analysis. The results showed that there was a significant effect of perceived burdensomeness and the ideological dimensions of religiosity. The results of this study are expected to be an input for readers to pay more attention to the perceived burdensomeness and ideology of religiosity in the elderly as factors that can influence suicidal ideation. Subsequent researchers can also develop this research by adding other independent variables to be analyzed, such as health conditions and living arrangements.


BJPsych Open ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 6 (5) ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas Forkmann ◽  
Heide Glaesmer ◽  
Laura Paashaus ◽  
Dajana Rath ◽  
Antje Schönfelder ◽  
...  

Background The interpersonal theory of suicide (IPTS) is one of the most intensively researched contemporary theories on the development of suicidal ideation and behaviour. However, there is a lack of carefully conducted prospective studies. Aims To evaluate the main predictions of the IPTS regarding the importance of perceived burdensomeness, thwarted belongingness and capability for suicide in predicting future suicide attempts in a prospective design. Method Psychiatric in-patients (n = 308; 53.6% (n = 165) female; mean age 36.82 years, s.d. = 14.30, range 18–81) admitted for severe suicidal ideation (n = 145, 47.1%) or a suicide attempt completed self-report measures of thwarted belongingness, perceived burdensomeness, capability for suicide, hopelessness, depression and suicidal ideation as well as interviews on suicide intent and suicide attempts and were followed up for 12 months. Logistic regression and receiver operating characteristics (ROC) analysis were conducted. Results The interaction of perceived burdensomeness, thwarted belongingness and capability for suicide was not predictive of future suicide attempts, but perceived burdensomeness showed a significant main effect (z = 3.49, P < 0.01; OR = 2.34, 95% CI 1.59–3.58) and moderate performance in screening for future suicide attempts (area under the curve AUC = 0.729, P < 0.01). Conclusions The results challenge the theoretical validity of the IPTS and its clinical utility – at least within the methodological limitations of the current study. Yet, findings underscore the importance of perceived burdensomeness in understanding suicidal ideation and behaviour.


2016 ◽  
Vol 33 (16) ◽  
pp. 2602-2620 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sean M. Mitchell ◽  
Paige L. Seegan ◽  
Jared F. Roush ◽  
Sarah L. Brown ◽  
Michael A. Sustaíta ◽  
...  

Research suggests that being cyberbullied is associated with increased risk for suicide ideation; however, few studies have examined the underlying mechanisms of this relation, and fewer have examined this relation within a theory of suicide. Specifically, the interpersonal theory of suicide posits that thwarted belongingness (indicated by loneliness and a lack of reciprocal caring relationships) and perceived burdensomeness (indicated by feelings of liability and self-hatred) increase risk for suicide ideation. The current study aimed to examine depressive symptoms, thwarted belongingness, and perceived burdensomeness as mediators between intensity of being cyberbullied and suicide ideation. Participants were college students ( N = 348) who completed assessments of retrospective peer victimization, thwarted interpersonal needs (i.e., thwarted belongingness and perceived burdensomeness), and suicide ideation. The results indicated that after adjusting for sexual orientation, depressive symptoms significantly mediated the relation between intensity of being cyberbullied and suicide ideation. Furthermore, depressive symptoms and perceived burdensomeness serially mediated the relation between intensity of being cyberbullied and suicide ideation; however, thwarted belongingness was not a significant mediator. Clinical and research implications, limitations, and future directions are discussed.


2015 ◽  
Vol 27 (11) ◽  
pp. 1785-1794 ◽  
Author(s):  
Danielle R. Jahn ◽  
Erin K. Poindexter ◽  
Kelly C. Cukrowicz

ABSTRACTBackground:Personality disorder traits are relatively prevalent among older adults, and can be associated with complex and chronic difficulties, including suicide risk. However, there is a lack of research regarding personality disorders and suicide ideation in older adults. Depressive symptoms and hopelessness may be important to the relation between personality disorders and suicide risk. Additionally, variables from the interpersonal theory of suicide, perceived burdensomeness and thwarted belongingness, may be critical risk factors for suicide in this population. We hypothesized that perceived burdensomeness and thwarted belongingness, theory-based variables, would act as parallel mediators of the relation between personality disorder traits and suicide ideation, whereas depressive symptoms and hopelessness would not.Methods:The hypothesis was tested in a sample of 143 older adults recruited from a primary care setting. Participants completed self-report questionnaires of personality traits, suicide ideation, depressive symptoms, hopelessness, perceived burdensomeness, and thwarted belongingness.Results:Findings from a non-parametric bootstrapping procedure indicated that perceived burdensomeness, thwarted belongingness, and depressive symptoms mediated the relation between total personality disorder traits and suicide ideation. Hopelessness did not act as a mediator.Conclusions:These findings indicate that perceived burdensomeness, thwarted belongingness, and depressive symptoms are likely important risk factors for suicide ideation among older adults. Clinicians should be aware of these issues when assessing and treating suicide risk among older adults.


Crisis ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 39 (1) ◽  
pp. 4-12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yi Jin Kim ◽  
Sung Seek Moon ◽  
Jang Hyun Lee ◽  
Joon Kyung Kim

Abstract. Background: A significant number of Korean adolescents have suicidal ideations and it is more prevalent among adolescents than any other age group in Korea. Aims: This study was conducted to attain a better understanding of the contributing factors to suicidal ideation among Korean adolescents. Method: We recruited 569 high school students in Grades 10 and 11 in Pyeongtaek, Korea. The Beck Scale for Suicidal Ideation was used to measure suicidal ideation as the outcome variable. The Interpersonal Needs Questionnaire, the Beck Hopelessness Scale, the School Related Stress Scale, the Olweus Bully/Victim Questionnaire, and the Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance questions were used to measure thwarted belongingness and perceived burdensomeness, hopelessness, school-related stress, bullying, and previous suicidal behaviors, respectively. Data analyses included descriptive statistics and structural equation modeling. Results: The findings suggest that perceived burdensomeness, hopelessness, school-related stress, and previous suicidal behaviors have significant direct effects on suicidal ideation. Hopelessness fully mediated the relation between thwarted belongingness and suicidal ideation, and partially mediated between perceived burdensomeness, school-related stress, and suicidal ideation. Conclusion: These findings provide more specific directions for a multidimensional suicide prevention program in order to be successful in reducing suicide rates among Korean adolescents.


Crisis ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 35 (1) ◽  
pp. 60-66 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amanda Venta ◽  
Carla Sharp

Background: Identifying risk factors for suicide-related thoughts and behaviors (SRTB) is essential among adolescents in whom SRTB remain a leading cause of death. Although many risk factors have already been identified, influential theories now suggest that the domain of interpersonal relationships may play a critical role in the emergence of SRTB. Because attachment has long been seen as the foundation of interpersonal functioning, we suggest that attachment insecurity warrants attention as a risk factor for SRTB. Aims: This study sought to explore relations between attachment organization and suicidal ideation, suicide attempts, and self-harm in an inpatient adolescent sample, controlling for demographic and psychopathological covariates. Method: We recruited 194 adolescents from an inpatient unit and assigned them to one of four attachment groups (secure, preoccupied, dismissing, or disorganized attachment). Interview and self-report measures were used to create four variables reflecting the presence or absence of suicidal ideation in the last year, single lifetime suicide attempt, multiple lifetime suicide attempts, and lifetime self-harm. Results: Chi-square and regression analyses did not reveal significant relations between attachment organization and SRTB, although findings did confirm previously established relations between psychopathology and SRTB, such that internalizing disorder was associated with increased self-harm, suicide ideation, and suicide attempt and externalizing disorder was associated with increased self-harm. Conclusion: The severity of this sample and methodological differences from previous studies may explain the nonsignificant findings. Nonsignificant findings may indicate that the relation between attachment organization and SRTB is moderated by other factors that should be explored in future research.


Crisis ◽  
2020 ◽  
pp. 1-7
Author(s):  
Laura R. Umphrey ◽  
John C. Sherblom ◽  
Paulina Swiatkowski

Abstract. Background: Cultivating positive feelings of self in relationships with others can affect perceptions of belongingness and burdensomeness. Aims: The present study examines the relationships of self-compassion, hope, and emotional control to thwarted belongingness, perceived burdensomeness, and suicidal ideation. Method: Participants were 481 college students who completed scales measuring self-compassion, hope, emotional control, thwarted belongingness, perceived burdensomeness, and suicidal ideation. Results: Correlation and parallel mediation analysis results show relationships between self-compassion, hope, and emotional control with perceived burdensomeness, thwarted belongingness, and suicidal ideation. Limitations: The study is limited by its cross-sectional design, sample demographics, and inability to distinguish between individuals with suicidal ideation and those who attempt suicide. Conclusion: The results show that the relationships of self-compassion, hope, and emotional control to perceived burdensomeness, thwarted belongingness, and suicidal ideation are worth further investigation.


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