Self-Concept and Suicide Intent

Abstract

154 Ss rated rhe concept myself on a semantic differential. Ratings of myself distinguished between suicidal and non-suicidal Ss and between more and less suicidal Ss. Changes in ratings of myself were significantly associared with changes in suicide risk.Lowered self-concept in suicidal Ss has frequently been reported. Farberow and McEvoy ( 3 ) in a chart review study and Spalt and Weisbuch ( 9 ) on the basis of psychological autopsies reported that completed suicides had significantly lower self-concepa than matched controls. Farberow ( 2 ) failed co find any relationship between his measure of self-esteem and suicidal behavior or seriousness of suicide risk. Kamano and Crawford (4) reported that selfconcept differed between suicidal and non-suicidal Ss but did not discriminate between more and less seriously suicidal Ss. Miller cited by Lester ( 5 ) , Wilson, et al. ( l o ) , and Neuringer (6, 7 ) all have reported that self-concept or selfratings are lower in suicidal Ss. Thus it seems clear that self-concept differs between suicidal and non-suicidal Ss, but it is not clear whether self-concept is sensirive to degree of suicide intent or changes in suicide intent.

Cognitive predictors of suicide risk among hospitalized psychiatric patients: A prospective study

“…While suicidal individuals do not appear to have a general tendency toward viewing concepts in extreme terms (Neuringer, 1961, Wetzel, 1976a, they may view particular concepts, such as life, death, themselves, and other people, in a polarized fashion (Neuringer & Lettieri, 1971;Neuringer, 1968Neuringer, , 1974, and they clearly invert the normative perception of nonsuicidal groups (Neuringer & Lettieri, 1971;Neuringer, 1974;Wetzel, 1975aWetzel, , 1975b.…”

“…Self-negativity has been identified an an important component of depression (Beck, Rush, Shaw, & Emery, 1979), and both variables are related to suicidal thoughts (Wetzel, 197513;Neimeyer, Heath, & Straws, 1985) and suicidal behavior (Neuringer, 1974;Wetzel, 197513;Rigdon, 1984). Landfield (1976) conducted a broader investigation of suicidal cognitive structure by having subjects complete a modified version of Kelly's (1955) Role Construct Repertory Test (Rep Test).…”

“…Empirical studies of polarization (Neuringer 1961(Neuringer , 1967(Neuringer , 1968(Neuringer , 1974Neuringer & Lettieri, 1971;Wetzel, 1975aWetzel, , 197513, 1976a have typically operationalized degree of polarization as the mean extremity of concept ratings on a Semantic Differential measure (Osgood, Suci, & Tannenbaum, 1957). While suicidal individuals do not appear to have a general tendency toward viewing concepts in extreme terms (Neuringer, 1961, Wetzel, 1976a, they may view particular concepts, such as life, death, themselves, and other people, in a polarized fashion (Neuringer & Lettieri, 1971;Neuringer, 1968Neuringer, , 1974, and they clearly invert the normative perception of nonsuicidal groups (Neuringer & Lettieri, 1971;Neuringer, 1974;Wetzel, 1975aWetzel, , 1975b.…”

A model program for youth suicide prevention

“…For many years there has been an interest in the self-representations of suicidal adolescents (2,8,9). Many researchers have pointed out the negativeness of the suicidal self (2,8).…”

Psychosocial Correlates of Suicide Ideation: A Comparison of Chinese and U.S. Rural Women

“…A number of studies have shown a relationship between lower self-esteem and suicidal behavior (e.g., Garrison, Jackson, Addy, McKeown, & Waller, 1991;Robbins & Alessi, 1985;Wetzel, 1975). Marciano and Kazdin (1994) reported that suicidal children scored lower on self-esteem than their non-suicidal peers, and in fact that self-esteem was a better predictor of suicidal behavior than other variables such as hopelessness.…”