Thwarted belongingness and perceived burdensomeness: construct validity and psychometric properties of the Interpersonal Needs Questionnaire

Abstract

The present study examined the psychometric properties and construct validity of scores derived from the Interpersonal Needs Questionnaire (INQ) using latent variable modeling with 5 independent samples varying in age and level of psychopathology. The INQ was derived from the interpersonal theory of suicide and was developed to measure thwarted belongingness and perceived burdensomeness-both proximal causes of desire for suicide. Results support that thwarted belongingness and perceived burdensomeness are distinct but related constructs and that they can be reliably measured. Further, multiple-group analyses were consistent with invariance for young versus older adults and nonclinical versus clinical populations, thereby supporting the relevance of these constructs to diverse populations. Finally, both constructs demonstrated convergent associations with related interpersonal constructs-including loneliness and social support for belongingness and social worth and death ideation for burdensomeness--as well as prospective associations with suicidal ideation.

Figure 1

Difference in Eigenvalues from Parallel Analysis

Figure 2

Structural Equation Model Results Examining Discriminant Relations in Younger Adults Lonely = UCLA Loneliness Scale; Social Support = Belong support subscale of the Interpersonal Support Evaluation List; Self-Liking = Self-Liking subscale of the Self-Liking/Self-Competence scale; Relatedness, Competence, Autonomy = same-named subscales of the Basic Need Satisfaction in Life Scale; Responsibility to Family = subscale of the Reasons for Living Scale; Self-Competence = Self-Liking subscale of the Self-Liking/Self-Competence scale; standardized loadings appear on the lines; Dotted lines indicate statistically insignificant loadings, all other loadings are significant at p<.05; grey-shaded boxes (observed variables) were posited to be more strongly related to perceived burdensomeness, while the unshaded boxes (excluding the measurement indicators) were posited to be more strongly related to belongingness.

Figure 3

Structural Equation Model Results Examining Discriminant Relations in Older Adults Lonely = UCLA Loneliness Scale; Social Support = Belong support subscale of the Interpersonal Support Evaluation List; (lower) Meaning in Life = Meaning in Life subscale of the Geriatric Suicide Ideation scale; Responsibility to Family = subscale of the Reasons for Living Scale; (lower) Social Worth = Loss of Personal and Social Worth subscale of the Geriatric Suicide Ideation Scale; standardized loadings appear on the lines; Dotted lines indicate statistically insignificant loadings, all other loadings are significant at p<.05; grey-shaded boxes (observed variables) were posited to be more strongly related to perceived burdensomeness, while the unshaded boxes (excluding the measurement indicators) were posited to be more strongly related to belongingness.