Testing Joiner's Theory of Suicide in Jail Inmates: An Exploratory Study

2013 ◽  
Vol 112 (1) ◽  
pp. 100-105 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rupendra Simlot ◽  
Kevin McFarland ◽  
David Lester
Keyword(s):  
Suicidal Behavior ◽  
Exploratory Study ◽  
Interpersonal Theory ◽  
Jail Inmates ◽  
Thwarted Belongingness ◽  
Perceived Burdensomeness ◽  
Interpersonal Theory Of Suicide ◽  
Acquired Capability ◽  
Self Harm

Thomas Joiner has proposed an interpersonal theory of suicide in which thwarted belongingness, perceived burdensomeness, and an acquired capability to commit self-harm predict suicidal behavior. In an exploratory study, a questionnaire was administered to 38 jail inmates to test the applicability of this theory to these inmates. Only thwarted belongingness was associated with past suicidal behavior and the inmates' own prediction of the likelihood of future suicidal behavior.

Pet Attachment and the Interpersonal Theory of Suicide

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Valerie Jane Douglas ◽  
Mun Yee Kwan ◽  
Kathryn H. Gordon
Keyword(s):  
Suicide Risk ◽  
Attachment Anxiety ◽  
Interpersonal Theory ◽  
Pet Ownership ◽  
Thwarted Belongingness ◽  
Perceived Burdensomeness ◽  
Attachment Avoidance ◽  
Interpersonal Theory Of Suicide ◽  
Pet Attachment ◽  
The Relationship

Objective: Pet ownership is often assumed to have mental health benefits, but the effect of pets on suicide risk has a scant literature. Method: Using the interpersonal theory of suicide, we examined the relationships between perceived burdensomeness, thwarted belongingness, overall attachment to one’s pet (quality of the relationship), pet attachment avoidance (distrustful of the relationship) or anxiety (afraid of abandonment), and suicide risk. Three hypotheses were investigated: 1) higher levels of attachment would be associated with lower suicide risk via lower levels of thwarted belongingness/perceived burdensomeness, 2) lower levels of pet attachment would be associated with higher levels of suicide risk via attachment avoidance/attachment anxiety, and 3) attachment avoidance/anxiety would be associated with higher suicide risk via thwarted belongingness/perceived burdensomeness. Undergraduates (N = 187) completed surveys and indirect effect analyses were utilized. Results: Higher overall attachment was associated with decreased attachment anxiety, which was associated with lower suicide risk. Attachment anxiety was correlated with increased suicide risk. Overall attachment, attachment avoidance and attachment anxiety were not found to indirectly affect suicide risk. Conclusions: Findings suggest that pet ownership may provide both protective and deleterious effects in a nonclinical sample.

Is Violence, Violence no Matter Where it Strikes? Adjudicated Boys, Thwarted Belongingness, Perceived Burdensomeness, and Acquired Capability for Suicide

2021 ◽  
pp. 088626052110550
Author(s):  
Judy A. Van Wyk
Keyword(s):  
Child Abuse ◽  
Suicidal Ideation ◽  
Interpersonal Violence ◽  
Conditional Logistic Regression ◽  
Strong Support ◽  
Interpersonal Theory ◽  
Thwarted Belongingness ◽  
Perceived Burdensomeness ◽  
Acquired Capability ◽  
Suicidal Attempts

This study explores treating violence against others as a precursor to self-directed violence. It tests the utility of including violence against others in the measure of acquired capability to test assumptions from the interpersonal theory of violence. Four theoretical hypotheses are assessed that are consistent with the theory: (1) thwarted belongingness (parental abandonment and rejection) and perceived burdensomeness (exposure to parental interpersonal violence and child abuse) independently increase the likelihood of suicidal ideation; (2) the interaction of thwarted belongingness and perceived burdensomeness increases the likelihood of suicidal ideation controlling for other pertinent variables; (3) the three-way interaction of thwarted belongingness, perceived burdensomeness, and acquired capability (violence against others and prior suicidal attempts) increases the likelihood of suicidal attempts controlling for other pertinent variables; and (4) self-harm responds to the theoretical variables and similarly, to attempts. Subjects are court-adjudicated males (ages 13–18) who were residents for up to 1 year at the Ocean Tides School and rehabilitation center from 1975–2019. The data span 44 years and include 2195 youth. Depression, drug/alcohol use, race, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, and interaction terms between SES and race and SES and ethnicity are also examined. Backward conditional logistic regression analyses find mixed support for the hypotheses, but strong support for including violence against others in the concept of acquired capability. Support is also found for conceptualizing child abuse and exposure to parental interpersonal violence as perceived burdensomeness in tests of this theory as well as measures of depression. Major implications for programming in the treatment and rehabilitation of delinquent boys include conceptualizing and approaching violence against others as a precursor to suicidal attempts and other self-directed harm.

scholarly journals Weight Stigma, Suicide Risk, and the Interpersonal Theory of Suicide: The Roles of Emotion Dysregulation and Eating Pathology

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Valerie Jane Douglas ◽  
Mun Yee Kwan ◽  
Kathryn H. Gordon
Keyword(s):  
Indirect Effect ◽  
Emotion Dysregulation ◽  
Suicide Risk ◽  
Weight Stigma ◽  
Emotional Dysregulation ◽  
Interpersonal Theory ◽  
Thwarted Belongingness ◽  
Perceived Burdensomeness ◽  
Interpersonal Theory Of Suicide ◽  
Weight Stigmatization

Objective: Using an interpersonal theory of suicide framework, we investigated the relationships between perceived burdensomeness, thwarted belongingness, weight stigmatization, emotion dysregulation, eating disorder symptoms, and suicide risk. Three hypotheses were investigated. First, we predicted a positive linear relationship between stigmatization and risk. Second, an indirect effect of stigmatization on risk via thwarted belongingness and perceived burdensomeness was posited. Third, we hypothesized that weight stigmatization would indirectly affect suicide risk via emotion dysregulation as conditional upon disordered eating. Method: Undergraduates (N = 156) completed surveys online. Linear regressions, indirect effect analyses, and conditional process modeling were conducted to test our hypotheses. Results: Weight stigmatization was associated with suicide risk, where higher levels of stigmatization were associated with higher levels of suicide risk. Weight stigmatization indirectly affected suicide risk via perceived burdensomeness but not thwarted belongingness. Higher stigmatization was associated with higher levels of perceived burdensomeness, which was associated with higher risk. An indirect effect of weight stigmatization on suicide risk through emotional dysregulation emerged. Higher weight stigmatization was associated with higher emotional dysregulation, which was associated with higher suicide risk. Conclusions: Our findings may have clinical and public health implications for suicide prevention efforts targeting weight stigma-related risk factors.

How does someone who weighs so little feel like a burden to everyone?

2016 ◽  
Vol 33 (S1) ◽  
pp. S598-S598
Author(s):  
F. Coutinho ◽  
I. Brandão ◽  
E. Pereira
Keyword(s):  
Anorexia Nervosa ◽  
Case Report ◽  
Suicide Attempts ◽  
Interpersonal Theory ◽  
Thwarted Belongingness ◽  
Perceived Burdensomeness ◽  
Interpersonal Theory Of Suicide ◽  
Her Family ◽  
Completed Suicide ◽  
Competing Interest

IntroductionAnorexia nervosa (AN) is one of the most lethal psychiatric disorders, which is explained partially by starvation related health problems, but also because of high suicide rates. One of the proposed theories to explain a suicide attempt is the interpersonal theory of suicide (IPTS), with its three essential variables: feelings of thwarted belongingness, perceived burdensomeness and the acquired capacity for suicide.ObjectiveTo review the literature about suicidality in AN and to present a case report of a patient with restrictive AN who has committed suicide.MethodsTo review of the literature using the database Medline, through PubMed, with the keywords “anorexia nervosa”, “eating disorders” and “suicide”.ResultsSuicide attempts and completed suicide are highly prevalent among patients with AN, and some authors suggest that 20–40% of deaths in AN are due to suicide. Recently, the IPTS has been proposed as a mean to explain increased suicidality in AN patients.ConclusionWe present a case report about a patient with a long standing AN who has committed suicide after leaving a goodbye note describing strong feelings of perceived burdensomeness directed to her family. It is of utmost importance to continue the study about the phenomenon of suicide in AN to be able to prevent this tragic outcome.Disclosure of interestThe authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

scholarly journals An Experimental Test of the ‘Interpersonal’ in the Interpersonal Theory of Suicide

2017 ◽  
Vol 8 (4) ◽  
pp. 332-346 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sarah E. George ◽  
Khan R. L. Collins ◽  
Temily Cao ◽  
Werner G. K. Stritzke ◽  
Andrew C. Page
Keyword(s):  
Suicide Ideation ◽  
Poor Performance ◽  
Interpersonal Theory ◽  
Experimental Paradigm ◽  
Thwarted Belongingness ◽  
Perceived Burdensomeness ◽  
Interpersonal Theory Of Suicide ◽  
Interpersonal Factors ◽  
Interpersonal Needs ◽  
Team Task

The interpersonal theory of suicide posits that failed interpersonal needs for efficacy and belongingness cause suicide ideation (Joiner, 2005). To distinguish whether their mechanism of action is interpersonal or via failure per se, an experimental paradigm was used. In Study 1 (n = 98), participants were randomly allocated to high or low perceived burdensomeness and thwarted belongingness conditions. Those who experienced high levels of the interpersonal factors expressed a heightened desire to disengage from the interactive computerized team task. To test whether disengagement was caused by interpersonal factors or just poor performance, participants in Study 2 (n = 63) were randomly allocated to complete the task in collaborative (i.e., interpersonal) or competitive (i.e., intrapersonal) conditions. The deficits in persistence were greater among participants in the interpersonal condition, indicating that the interpersonal nature of perceived burdensomeness and thwarted belongingness makes these factors particularly pernicious, supporting the emphasis of the interpersonal theory of suicide.

775 The Relationship Between Sleep and Suicidal Ideation in College Students

SLEEP ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 44 (Supplement_2) ◽  
pp. A301-A302
Author(s):  
Krishna Taneja ◽  
Andrew Tubbs ◽  
Fabian-Xosé Fernandez ◽  
Michael Perlis ◽  
Michael Grandner
Keyword(s):  
College Students ◽  
Suicidal Ideation ◽  
Suicide Risk ◽  
Severity Index ◽  
Interpersonal Theory ◽  
Thwarted Belongingness ◽  
Perceived Burdensomeness ◽  
Interpersonal Theory Of Suicide ◽  
Short Sleep ◽  
Sleep Control

Abstract Introduction Suicide is the second-leading cause of death for young adults and insomnia increases suicide risk. However, the data on disrupted sleep and suicidal ideation in college students is mixed, including whether disrupted sleep fits into the framework of the Interpersonal Theory of Suicide. Therefore, the present study explored how four different sleep variables influenced recent suicidal ideation in a collegiate sample. Methods Data from N=506 respondents were collected as part of the Assessing Nocturnal Sleep/Wake Effects on Risk of Suicide (ANSWERS) Survey in college students. The primary outcome, active suicidal ideation in the last 3 months, was assessed using several self-report questions derived from the Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale. The predictors were weekday short sleep (≤6h; assessed by retrospective sleep diary), Insomnia Severity Index (ISI) score, Brief Inventory of Sleep Control (BRISC) score, and Disturbing Dreams and Nightmares Severity Index (DDNSI) score. Binomial logistic regression models estimated the associations between suicidal ideation and sleep variables in models that were unadjusted, adjusted for age, sex, race, and ethnicity, and additionally adjusted for thwarted belongingness or perceived burdensomeness (constructs from the Interpersonal Theory of Suicide). Results A total of N=121 (23.9%) respondents endorsed suicidal ideation in the last 3 months. Individuals with suicidal ideation were in poorer health (p<0.001) and had more severe depression (p<0.001) and anxiety (p<0.001). In unadjusted models, individuals were more likely to report suicidal ideation if they had short sleep (OR 1.93 [1.23–3.05]), ISI scores of 8 or more (OR 3.01 [1.94–4.74]), and DDNSI scores of 10 or more (OR 2.66 [1.69–4.19]). Higher BRISC scores were associated with lower odds of suicidal ideation (OR 0.53 [0.41–0.68]). Adjusting for age, sex, race, ethnicity, thwarted belongingness, and perceived burdensomeness attenuated but did not eliminate any of these relationships. Conclusion Insomnia, short sleep, nightmares, and less perceived sleep control were all associated with recent suicidal ideation in college students. Moreover, these findings were generally independent of the Interpersonal Theory of Suicide. Further research is needed to understand how sleep affects suicide risk in this population, and whether sleep interventions can reduce this risk. Support (if any):

scholarly journals Shame and Suicidal Ideation among Undergraduates in China: The Mediating Effect of Thwarted Belongingness and Perceived Burdensomeness

2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (7) ◽  
pp. 2360 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jingjing Zhao ◽  
Yanna Chi ◽  
Yanli Ju ◽  
Xiyao Liu ◽  
Jingjing Wang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Suicidal Ideation ◽  
Undergraduate Students ◽  
Psychological Intervention ◽  
Mediating Effect ◽  
Interpersonal Theory ◽  
Mediating Effects ◽  
Suicide Risk Assessment ◽  
Thwarted Belongingness ◽  
Perceived Burdensomeness ◽  
Interpersonal Theory Of Suicide

Undergraduate students with shame are more likely to experience suicidal ideation, but there remains a lack of research investigating the factors underlying this relationship. The interpersonal theory of suicide posits that suicidal ideation is influenced by the simultaneous presence of thwarted belongingness and perceived burdensomeness. We examined the prevalence of suicidal ideation among undergraduate students in China and examined the association between shame and suicidal ideation mediated by perceived burdensomeness and thwarted belongingness. A survey was conducted in July 2018 involving 2320 undergraduate students, and the twelve-month prevalence of suicidal ideation was 8.95%. Shame played a crucial role in predicting suicidal ideation, and the mediating effects of perceived burdensomeness and thwarted belongingness between shame and suicidal ideation were significant. Suicidal ideation is common among undergraduate students in China and merits greater attention. Shame, perceived burdensomeness, and thwarted belongingness may be important factors to assess among undergraduate students in suicide risk assessment and psychological intervention.

Thwarted Belongingness and Perceived Burdensomeness in Suicide Notes

Crisis ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 33 (3) ◽  
pp. 178-181 ◽  
Author(s):  
John F. Gunn ◽  
David Lester ◽  
Janet Haines ◽  
Christopher L. Williams
Keyword(s):  
Interpersonal Theory ◽  
Thwarted Belongingness ◽  
Perceived Burdensomeness ◽  
Interpersonal Theory Of Suicide ◽  
Suicide Notes

Background: Joiner’s interpersonal theory of suicide postulates that suicide occurs because of thwarted belongingness and perceived burdensomeness, combined with a capability for committing suicide. Aims: The present study examines the frequency of the presence of the themes of thwarted belongingness and perceived burdensomeness in suicide notes. Methods: A total of 261 suicide notes from 1091 consecutive completed suicides in Tasmania were rated for the presence of thwarted belongingness and perceived burdensomeness. Results: Contrary to the theory, few suicide notes were found to include perceived burdensomeness (10.3%) and thwarted belongingness (30.7%), and only 4.2% had both themes. The notes of women more often contained the theme of perceived burdensomeness, while the notes of younger suicides more often contained the theme of thwarted belongingness. Conclusions: Joiner’s theory of suicide may apply to only a small percentage of suicides who leave suicide notes.

scholarly journals Predicting suicidal ideation in a nationally representative sample of young adults: a 12-month prospective study

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-8
Author(s):  
Karen Wetherall ◽  
Seonaid Cleare ◽  
Sarah Eschle ◽  
Eamonn Ferguson ◽  
Daryl B. O'Connor ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Suicidal Ideation ◽  
Prospective Study ◽  
Theoretical Models ◽  
Interpersonal Theory ◽  
Thwarted Belongingness ◽  
Perceived Burdensomeness ◽  
Interpersonal Theory Of Suicide ◽  
Nationally Representative ◽  
The Relationship

Abstract Background Evidence-based theoretical models outlining the pathways to the development of suicidal ideation may inform treatment. The current research draws from the Interpersonal Theory of Suicide (IPT) and the Integrated Motivational-Volitional (IMV) Model of suicidal behaviour and aims to test the interaction between perceived burdensomeness and thwarted belongingness as proposed by the IPT model, and the defeat-entrapment pathway as proposed by the IMV model, in the prediction of suicidal ideation at 12-month follow-up. Methods The Scottish Wellbeing Study is a nationally representative prospective study of young people aged 18–34 years (n = 3508) from across Scotland, who completed a baseline interview and a 12-month follow-up (n = 2420). The core factors from both the IPT (perceived burdensomeness and thwarted belongingness) and the IMV model (defeat, internal and external entrapment) were measured alongside demographics, depressive symptoms and suicidal ideation at baseline. At 12-month follow-up, suicidal ideation was assessed again. Results In multiple regression analysis perceived burdensomeness and internal entrapment, with baseline suicidal ideation, predicted 12-month suicidal ideation. No support for the interaction between perceived burdensomeness and thwarted belongingness in predicting 12-month suicidal ideation was found. However, there was evidence that internal, but not external, entrapment mediated the relationship between defeat and 12-month suicidal ideation, but no support was found for the moderation of burdensomeness and belongingness on the entrapment to suicidal ideation pathway. Conclusions The current findings highlight the importance of targeting perceived burdensomeness and internal entrapment to reduce the likelihood that suicidal ideation emerges in at risk individuals.

777 Sleep and non-suicidal self-injury in college students

SLEEP ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 44 (Supplement_2) ◽  
pp. A302-A303
Author(s):  
Sierra Hendershot ◽  
Andrew Tubbs ◽  
Fabian-Xosé Fernandez ◽  
Michael Perlis ◽  
Michael Grandner
Keyword(s):  
College Students ◽  
Suicide Risk ◽  
Severity Index ◽  
Interpersonal Theory ◽  
Thwarted Belongingness ◽  
Perceived Burdensomeness ◽  
Interpersonal Theory Of Suicide ◽  
Lower Odds ◽  
Short Sleep ◽  
Self Injury

Abstract Introduction Non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) can increase suicide risk and is highly prevalent among young adults, including college students. While there is mounting evidence that disrupted sleep increases suicide risk, it is unclear how sleep influences NSSIs. Therefore, the present study explored how sleep variables were associated with NSSIs in a college sample. Methods Data from N=506 respondents were collected as part of the Assessing Nocturnal Sleep/Wake Effects on Risk of Suicide (ANSWERS) Survey of college students. The primary outcome, lifetime NSSI, was assessed using a self-report question derived from the Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale. The predictors were weekday short sleep (≤ 6h; assessed by retrospective sleep diary), Insomnia Severity Index (ISI) score, Brief Inventory of Sleep Control (BRISC) score, and Disturbing Dreams and Nightmares Severity Index (DDNSI) score. Binomial logistic regression models estimated the associations between NSSI and sleep variables in models that were unadjusted, adjusted for age, sex, race, and ethnicity, and additionally adjusted for thwarted belongingness or perceived burdensomeness from the Interpersonal Theory of Suicide. Results A total of N=142 (28.1%) respondents endorsed lifetime non-suicidal self-injury. Individuals with NSSI were more likely to be female (p=0.015), in poorer health (p<0.001), and have more severe depression (p<0.001) and anxiety (p<0.001) than those without NSSI. In unadjusted models, higher BRISC scores were associated with lower odds of NSSI (OR 0.55 [0.43–0.71]), DDNSI scores of >=10 increased the odds of NSSI (OR 2.65 [1.70–4.11], and ISI scores of >=8 increased the odds of NSSI (OR 2.05 [1.38–3.08]), while short sleep was not associated with NSSI. Adjusting for age, sex, race, ethnicity, and thwarted belongingness did not eliminate any of these relationships but adjusting for perceived burdensomeness rendered the association between insomnia and NSSI non-significant. Conclusion Individuals with significant insomnia symptoms or nightmares were more likely to report a history of NSSI, while individuals with greater perceived control of sleep had lower odds of NSSI. These findings were generally independent of the Interpersonal Theory of Suicide. Further research is needed regarding the timing of NSSI (i.e., do they occur more often during nocturnal wakefulness) and whether sleep interventions can reduce the risk of NSSI. Support (if any):

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