Do physical disabilities differentiate between suicidal ideation and attempts? An examination within the lens of the ideation to action framework of suicide

Abstract

Objectives: This study examined histories of suicidality among those with and without physical disabilities. Physical disabilities were anticipated to differentiate those with a history of suicide attempts from those with a history of ideation only after accounting for the presence of health conditions and other correlates.Methods: Participants were 374 adults (M age = 36.08; 55.61% female; 84 with at least one physical disability) who completed a series of online questionnaires. Multinomial logistic regressions were conducted to examine the effect of the presence of physical disabilities on states of suicidality. Results:The presence of a physical disability was associated with significantly increased odds of suicide attempts when compared to those with suicidal ideation only. This association was no longer significant when chronic pain conditions were classified as health conditions. Conclusion: Physical disability may be a factor differentiating between ideators and attempt survivors. K E Y W O R D S disability, health, ideation to action, suicide J. Clin. Psychol. 2019;75:681-695.wileyonlinelibrary.com/journal/jclp

Association of vision impairment with suicide ideation, plans, and attempts among adults in the United States

“…Our findings revealed that certain serious chronic conditions alone, such as VI, can affect suicidal thoughts and behaviors among adults, even in the absence of other psychiatric disorders (Fässberg et al, 2016;Khazem & Anestis, 2019). Study findings contributed to the body of knowledge by updating and expanding on Lam et al (2008).…”

“…Psychological strain, as a consequence of vision loss or perceived lack of social relations, coupled with a lack of social integration, was present in the majority of suicides (Joiner, 2005; Khazem & Anestis, 2019; Klonsky et al, 2021). Stronger psychological strain, from different values and coping skills in the face of vision loss, increase the odds of suicide attempts (J. Zhang, 2019).…”

Differences in suicide risk correlates and history of suicide ideation and attempts as a function of disability type

“…The lack of significant differences in rates of lifetime SI or SA between those with vision versus mobility disabilities is noteworthy. Although people with disabilities, as a whole, have significantly higher rates of SA than those without disabilities (Khazem & Anestis, 2019 ; Marlow et al, 2021 ), these findings indicate that it may be that the type of disability is not as relevant to the development of SI or the transition to SA. In contrast with this possibility, however, Marlow et al ( 2021 ) observed that, compared to people without disbailities, those with vision disabilities had significantly greater odds of past‐year SI, suicide planning, and SA, while those with mobility disabilities were significantly more likely to have engaged in suicide planning only.…”

“…More specifically, those with mobility disabilities are more likely to have a history of suicidal ideation (SI; Russell et al, 2009 ) and have up to eight times greater prevalence of past‐year suicide attempts (SAs) than those without disabilities (Meltzer et al, 2012 ). Further, among individuals with a history of SI, those with mobility or vision disabilities were roughly three times as likely to have made a SA than those without disabilities (Khazem & Anestis, 2019 ). In a nationally representative sample of individuals in the United States, people with vision disabilities had significantly greater odds of past‐year SI, suicide planning, and SA than those without disabilities, whereas those with mobility disabilities were significantly more likely to have engaged in suicide planning (Marlow et al, 2021 ).…”

Applying the Stress Process Theory to Assess Correlates of Suicide Ideation-to-Action Among Persons on Parole in the United States

“…For example, research has indicated that low physical health self-efficacy was associated with prior suicide attempts and future suicide ideation (Isaac et al, 2018). Research also indicates higher risks of suicide ideation and suicide attempt as a result of disability and ongoing chronic pain conditions (Fishbain et al, 2014;Khazem et al, 2019). This speaks to a larger need for literature centered on self-rated health conditions in relation to the suicide ideation-to-action continuum among persons on parole.…”