The Self's Role in Its Own Demise: The Impact of Mentalization on the Relationship Between Perceived Burdensomeness, Thwarted Belongingness and Suicidal Ideation Among University Students Aged Between 17-26

Background: In the Netherlands, suicide was the primary death cause in people under 30 in 2022. An antecedent of suicide is suicidal ideation and its prevalence varies between 14.3-22.6% in adolescents. Previous attempts to explain and predict suicidality led to the elaboration of several theories. However, while addressing behaviours aimed at the destruction of the ego, these theories overlook the ego’s role. Objective: This study investigated whether the ego function of mentalization moderates the relationship between perceived burdensomeness (PB)/thwarted belongingness (TB) and suicidal ideation (SI) among 17–26-year-old adolescents. This research could expand the Interpersonal Psychological Theory (IPT) of Suicidal Behavior framework. Methods: Using a cross-sectional design, we collected data via several online questionnaires. The final sample size consisted of 99 18-26 years old Leiden University students. Data was analyzed using a correlation matrix and two hierarchical...Show moreBackground: In the Netherlands, suicide was the primary death cause in people under 30 in 2022. An antecedent of suicide is suicidal ideation and its prevalence varies between 14.3-22.6% in adolescents. Previous attempts to explain and predict suicidality led to the elaboration of several theories. However, while addressing behaviours aimed at the destruction of the ego, these theories overlook the ego’s role. Objective: This study investigated whether the ego function of mentalization moderates the relationship between perceived burdensomeness (PB)/thwarted belongingness (TB) and suicidal ideation (SI) among 17–26-year-old adolescents. This research could expand the Interpersonal Psychological Theory (IPT) of Suicidal Behavior framework. Methods: Using a cross-sectional design, we collected data via several online questionnaires. The final sample size consisted of 99 18-26 years old Leiden University students. Data was analyzed using a correlation matrix and two hierarchical regression analyses corresponding to the two moderation models tested. Results: All the variables were significantly correlated to one another. Additionally, PB (p < .001) and TB (p < .001) positively predicted SI. Mentalization did not moderate the relationships between PB/TB and SI. Therefore, the moderation models were not supported. An additional linear regression was conducted as an exploratory analysis and revealed that mentalization negatively predicted SI (p < .05). Conclusion: In adolescents, lower mentalization might relate to more PB, TB and SI. Additionally, higher PB and TB might predict more SI. The exploratory analysis revealed that lower mentalization ability might also predict more SI in adolescents. However, mentalization did not moderate the relationships between PB/TB and SI and possible reasons for this are discussed. The theoretical implications are that the investigation of ego functions’ roles in suicidality and mentalization in the context of IPT may hold promise and current suicide theories may indeed be incomplete. Practical implications are related to suggesting new intervention targets among suicidal adolescents.Show less

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The Self's Role in Its Own Demise: The Impact of Mentalization on the Relationship Between Perceived Burdensomeness, Thwarted Belongingness and Suicidal Ideation Among University Students Aged Between 17-26