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. 2024 Jun;48(3):398-405.
doi: 10.1007/s10608-024-10477-x. Epub 2024 Feb 28.

Self-Burdensomeness, Self-Esteem and Suicidal Ideation

Tobias Teismann  1 , Thomas E Joiner  2 , Morgan Robison  2 , Julia Brailovskaia  1   3
Affiliations

Self-Burdensomeness, Self-Esteem and Suicidal Ideation

Tobias Teismann et al. Cognit Ther Res. 2024 Jun.

Abstract

Background: Low self-esteem and self-burdensomeness have been proposed as risk factors for suicidal ideation. Yet, self-burdensomeness may be more relevant to suicidal ideation than low self-esteem. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the association between self-esteem, self-burdensomeness, and suicidal ideation in a sample of adult outpatients.

Methods: Data from N = 202 patients (66.3% female; age: M[SD] = 39.87 [13.31], range: 19-73) who started therapy at an outpatient clinic were collected. A subsample of n = 111 patients (68.5% female; age: M[SD] = 38.50 [13.48], range: 20-73) also took part in a second assessment three-months later.

Results: Self-burdensomeness was shown to predict suicidal ideation concurrently and prospectively - after controlling for age, gender, depression, and self-esteem. Furthermore, self-burdensomeness completely mediated the association between self-esteem and suicidal ideation. However, the reverse relationship, where the association between self-burdensomeness and suicidal ideation is mediated by self-esteem, was not supported.

Conclusions: Self-burdensomeness might be understood as a driver of suicidal ideation. Findings point to the possibility that a focus on self-burdensomeness and/or low self-esteem might be relevant in the treatment of suicidal patients.

Keywords: Acute suicidal affective disturbance; Interpersonal theory of suicide; Self-burdensomeness; Self-esteem; Suicidal ideation.

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Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Mediation model including self-esteem (T1, predictor), self-burdensomeness (T1, mediator), and suicidal ideation (T2, outcome). Note. c = total effect, c’=direct effect; b = standardized regression coefficient, SE = standard error, CI = confidence interval
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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