Future disposition and suicidal ideation: Mediation by depressive symptom clusters

Abstract

Background In line with hopelessness theory, both increased negative expectancies and reduced positive expectancies for the future have been associated with suicidal ideation. This study evaluated two depression symptom clusters as mediators of the relationship between future disposition and suicide: subjective feelings of depression and self-blame. Methods Data from 140 undergraduate students with moderate to severe depression symptoms are presented who completed the Beck Scale for Suicidal Ideation, Beck Depression Inventory and the Future Disposition Inventory. Results On mediation analysis, subjective depression mediated the relationship between positive disposition and suicidal ideation. In contrast, the relationship between negative disposition and suicidal ideation was mediated by self-blame. The reverse of these relationships was not significant. Limitations This is a cross-sectional study of an undergraduate sample and results warrant replication in clinical samples with clinician-administered assessments. Conclusions Findings suggest two potential pathways to suicidal thoughts with implications for assessment and treatment. Depressed individuals with few positive expectations of the future may benefit from interventions focusing on subjective depression symptoms, such as sadness or anhedonia. For depressed individuals with negative expectations for the future, a clinical focus on negative attributions or self-blame may be warranted.

Role of depression severity and impulsivity in the relationship between hopelessness and suicidal ideation in patients with major depressive disorder

“…Previous study has shown the mediating effect of some depressive symptom clusters such as self-blame on the relationship between hopelessness with SI in undergraduate students (Ballard et al, 2015). The current findings also found this effect in clinical sample.…”

“…Empirical findings (Beck, 1986;Beck et al, 1989Beck et al, , 1985 have shown the predictive effects of hopelessness on long-term suicide risk and eventual suicide both in hospitalized depressed patients and outpatients. A recent study in college students with moderate to severe depression symptoms found there was a significant mediating effect of depressive symptom clusters in the relationship between hopelessness and SI (Ballard et al, 2015). However, the mediating effect of depression severity in the relationship between hopelessness and SI has not been examined in clinical sample with MDD.…”

Factor structure, factorial invariance, and validity of the Multidimensional Shame-Related Response Inventory-21 (MSRI-21).

“…Previous research also supports the adequacy of scale-level reliability estimates ( r > .80; Ballard, Patel, Ward, & Lamis, 2015; Bryan, Ray-Sannerud, Morrow, & Etienne, 2013). Internal consistency reliability estimates for the current study ranged from .75 to .92 with a total 95% CI [.71, .94].…”

Meaning in life as a protective factor against suicidal tendencies in Chinese University students

“…Moreover, the larger effect sizes of mediation of meaning in life variables between the Positive Focus subscale of the FDI-24 and the Suicidal Behaviors Questionnaire-Revised than between the Beck d Hopelessness Scale and the SBQ-R suggested that this subscale is a valuable addition to the measurement of the hopelessness construct. Positive future disposition is not just a reverse of negative future disposition, it has its specific qualitative difference [49], and it does imply a stronger meaning in life and search for meaning, which should be taken into account in screening procedures.…”