Do Measures of Social Support and Social Distress Share General Factors Associated with Suicidal Ideation and Attempts?

Overview

Journal Suicide Life Threat Behav

Specialties Psychiatry
Psychology
Social Sciences

Date 2024 May 30

PMID 38813963

Authors

K G Saulnier

C A King

M A Ilgen

D Ganoczy

J Jagusch

J Garlick

K M Abraham

A Lapidos

H M Kim

E Vega

B K Ahmedani

P N Pfeiffer

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Introduction: Aspects of social relationships have variably been associated with suicidal ideation (SI) and suicide attempts (SAs). This study assessed whether social support and social distress measures have general factors versus measure-specific factors that are associated with suicide risk.

Methods: Adults (N = 455, 60.0% female), admitted to psychiatric inpatient units following a recent suicide attempt or active SI, completed assessments of social support (emotional support, instrumental support, friendship, perceived support from significant others, friends, family) and social distress (loneliness, perceived rejection, perceived burdensomeness, thwarted belongingness). Bifactor modeling examined general and specific factors of social support and distress in relation to SI (week prior to hospitalization, via the Beck Scale for SI) and SAs (past 30 days, via the Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale).

Results: SI was significantly associated with the general social support (B = -1.51), the general social distress (B = 1.67), and the specific perceived burdensomeness (B = 1.57) factors. SAs were significantly associated with the specific Perceived Rejection (OR = 1.05) and Thwarted Belongingness (OR = 0.91) factors.

Conclusion: General social support and social distress were associated with SI but not recent SAs. Specific social distress factors were also related to SI and SAs controlling for general social distress, suggesting areas for future interventions.

Citing Articles

Reciprocal relations between acute interpersonal negative life events and acute alcohol use: An examination of the 24 h preceding suicide attempts among hospitalized patients.

Saulnier K, McCarthy D, Littlefield A, Cohen S, Barbour E, Bagge C Gen Hosp Psychiatry. 2024; 91:115-121.

PMID: 39432937 PMC: 11634632. DOI: 10.1016/j.genhosppsych.2024.10.010.

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