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. 2016 Feb 1;40(1):31-37.
doi: 10.1007/s10608-015-9715-3. Epub 2015 Aug 19.

Thwarted Belongingness Mediates the Relationship between Fear of Negative Evaluation and Suicidal Ideation

Carol Chu  1 , Jennifer M Buchman-Schmitt  1 , Fallon Moberg  1 , Thomas E Joiner  1
Affiliations

Thwarted Belongingness Mediates the Relationship between Fear of Negative Evaluation and Suicidal Ideation

Carol Chu et al. Cognit Ther Res. .

Abstract

Fear of negative evaluation has been documented as a mechanism that explains variations in feelings of belongingness. According to the interpersonal theory of suicide (Joiner, 2005), feelings of thwarted belongingness, that one does not belong, can significantly increase desire and risk for suicide. We proposed that differences in thwarted belongingness may explain variations in suicidal ideation and behavior as a function of levels of fear of negative evaluation. This hypothesis was tested by examining self-reported fears of negative evaluation, thwarted belongingness, and suicidal ideation in 107 young adults, many who were explicitly targeted for recruitment due to a history of suicidal ideation and behavior (13.1% had thoughts about suicide without a previous attempt; 15.9% reported at least one previous attempt [max = 5 attempts]). Mediation analyses were conducted with suicidal ideation entered as the outcome variable. Results indicated that greater fears of negative evaluation were significantly and positively associated with levels of suicidal ideation. Differences in thwarted belongingness fully accounted for the relationship between fears of negative evaluation and suicidal ideation. We conclude with clinical implications and future directions.

Keywords: fear of negative evaluation; interpersonal theory of suicide; suicidal ideation; thwarted belongingness.

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Conflict of interest statement

Disclosures: The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest. Of note, these data have not been previously presented elsewhere.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
** p <.001, * p < .01. Standardized regression coefficients for the relationship between fear of negative evaluation and suicidal ideation as mediated by thwarted belongingness. The standardized regression coefficient between fear of negative evaluation and suicidal ideation, controlling for thwarted belongingness, is in parentheses. The indirect effect of fears of negative evaluation on suicidal ideation through thwarted belongingness was significant (.009), and the 95% confidence interval ranged from .0027, .0187.
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