The indirect effect of perceived burdensomeness on the relationship between indices of social support and suicide ideation in college students

David W. Hollingsworth, Department of Psychology , Fairfield University , Fairfield , Connecticut , USA.
Meredith L. Slish, Psychology Service, Oklahoma City Veteran Affairs Medical Center , Oklahoma City , Oklahoma , USA.
LaRicka R. Wingate, Department of Psychology , Oklahoma State University , Stillwater , Oklahoma , USA.
Collin L. Davidson, Department of Psychology, Hennepin County Medical Center , Minneapolis , Minnesota , USA.
Kathy A. Rasmussen, Home Basic Primary Care, VA Palo Alto Health Care System , Modesto , California , USA.
Victoria M. O'Keefe, Department of International Health, Center for American Indian Health , Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health , Baltimore , Maryland , USA.
Raymond P. Tucker, Department of Psychology , Louisiana State University , Baton Rouge , Louisiana , USA.
DeMond M. Grant

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: Research has demonstrated that a lack of social support is related to suicide risk. This study examines perceived burdensomeness and thwarted belongingness, of the Interpersonal Theory of Suicide, as mechanisms of the social support-suicide relationship in college students. METHOD: The study consisted of 207 students from a Midwestern university. Data were collected from 2007 to 2008. Two multiple mediation analyses were conducted to examine whether perceived burdensomeness and thwarted belongingness mediated the relationship between indices of social support and suicide ideation. RESULTS: Perceived burdensomeness mediated the relationships between perceived social support and suicide ideation (95% confidence interval [CI] -.02 to -.00, effect size = -.01) and social connectedness and suicide ideation (95% CI -.03 to -.00, effect size = -.03). Thwarted belongingness did not mediate either relationship. CONCLUSIONS: Results suggest that a lack of social support could lead to perceptions of being a burden on others, which could lead to suicide ideation.

This paper has been withdrawn.