Perceived social support, thwarted interpersonal needs, and distress due to suicide ideation among psychiatric inpatients: The moderating effects of criminal associates

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2017-08

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Abstract

Suicide is a significant concern among psychiatric inpatients. The interpersonal theory of suicide may provide a theoretical lens through which to conceptualize suicide ideation within this group. This theory posits that thwarted belongingness and perceived burdensomeness are risk factors for suicide ideation. The theory also suggests that thwarted belongingness and perceived burdensomeness are related, yet distinct constructs. That is, although perceived burdensomeness requires one to have relationships on which to feel a burden, these relationships may not always fulfill the need to belong; thus, thwarted belongingness may still be experienced. Given this, it would be expected that as one experiences greater perceived social support, he or she would report less thwarted belongingness and perceived burdensomeness. Individuals who engage with criminal associates (i.e., individuals one knows who participate in crime) may experience poor relationship quality, which may increase psychological distress. Therefore, the association between perceived social support, thwarted belongingness, perceived burdensomeness, and distress due to suicide ideation may be stronger among those with greater involvement with criminal associates.

It was hypothesized that perceived social support would be negatively associated with thwarted belongingness (H1) and perceived burdensomeness (H2), and these associations would be magnified among those with greater involvement with criminal associates. Additionally, it was hypothesized that thwarted belongingness (H3) and perceived burdensomeness (H4) would be positively associated with distress due to suicide ideation, and these associations would be magnified among those with greater involvement with criminal associates.

Participants were 142 psychiatric inpatients who completed assessments of perceived social support, perceived burdensomeness, thwarted belongingness, depressive symptoms, hopelessness, involvement with criminal associates, and distress due to suicide ideation. Ordinary least squares regression, ordinal logistic regression, and multinomial logistic regression were used to test the hypotheses. The results indicated perceived social support was significantly negatively associated with thwarted belongingness and perceived burdensomeness. Additionally, thwarted belongingness and perceived burdensomeness were significantly associated with greater odds of experiencing distress due to suicide ideation. Contrary to the hypotheses, these associations did not vary based on involvement with criminal associates. The models were also tested when adjusting for depressive symptoms and hopelessness. Implications and limitations are discussed.

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Keywords

Suicide ideation, Criminal associates, Social support, Thwarted belongingness, Perceived burdensomeness, Psychiatric inpatients

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