In the Netherlands, there has been an increase in suicide rates among young adults (20 to 30 years) in the past two years and since 2022 there has been almost a doubling of young people with...Show moreIn the Netherlands, there has been an increase in suicide rates among young adults (20 to 30 years) in the past two years and since 2022 there has been almost a doubling of young people with suicidal thoughts compared to 2021. Because of this rise, we want to gain a deeper insight into factors that might contribute to suicidal thoughts and possible differences between men and women. This is because gender differences are found in suicidal ideation. By exploring risk factors and possible gender differences, early gender-specific interventions can be made. The current study combines quantitative and qualitative data to reach insights by analyzing survey data (N = 1367) and talking with young adults (having suicidal thoughts in the past two years but no active ideation; n = 19) risk factors are explored and interpreted. The analyses conducted were univariate and multivariate LRAs. After a Holm-Bonferroni correction, problems in Mental Health (p < .001), Loneliness (p < .001), and Trauma (p = .001) were positively associated with suicidal thoughts and Social Support (p = .001) was negatively associated with suicidal thoughts. We tentatively conclude that these risk factors play a role in both men and women, and it is important to support all young adults in these fields. It is recommended in further research to separate young adults having recent and long-term suicidal thoughts to gain a deeper understanding of the increase in the past two years.Show less
Although there are many established risk factors for suicide ideation, there is also some literature that questions the use of individual risk factors, and argues for a more complex approach...Show moreAlthough there are many established risk factors for suicide ideation, there is also some literature that questions the use of individual risk factors, and argues for a more complex approach towards them. Current research delved into the interplay between activating coping strategies, negative social interactions, and sleep disturbances in relation to suicide ideation. Study employed a longitudinal design with the sample of 82 participants with a recent history of a suicide attempt or moderate to severe suicide ideation. The observations were collected four times a day via ecological momentary assessments for the duration of three weeks. The hypotheses were tested via multilevel modelling analyses. Activating coping strategies were not significantly associated with reduced suicide ideation. Then, negative social interactions were positively associated with suicide ideation, poor subjective sleep quality, and nightmares. Furthermore, poor subjective sleep quality and difficulty falling asleep were associated with suicide ideation, whereas nightmares were not. Lastly, a full mediating effect of subjective sleep quality was found on the relationship between negative social interactions and suicide ideation. Despite some limitations, such as self-report and a somewhat selective sample, the study's strengths lie in its use of ecological momentary assessments and multilevel modelling, which enable a comprehensive examination of daily fluctuations and associations. The study discusses possible reasons for and the importance of current findings, and calls for future research to explore complex relationships among suicide ideation risk factors, potentially offering a more nuanced understanding of their predictive power.Show less
The etiology of anorexia nervosa (AN) remains difficult to understand, and even harder to predict. Identifying possible risk factors is therefore crucial. Recent literature has suggested that...Show moreThe etiology of anorexia nervosa (AN) remains difficult to understand, and even harder to predict. Identifying possible risk factors is therefore crucial. Recent literature has suggested that impaired set-shifting (SS) in the anorexic population might play a role as an endophenotype, meaning it might make individuals more susceptible to developing this disorder. It has been established that SS abilities are impaired in adults with AN, but it is unclear whether this is also the case for younger age groups. In this study we aimed to get a better understanding of the possible SS impairment in adolescents with AN. We examined differences in SS abilities between female adolescents with AN and HC (N=72; AN=45, HC=27), between the ages of 12-21 years old (M=15.83, SD=2.08) using a MANOVA, and looked at the influence of food-related stimuli, activity-related stimuli, and neutral stimuli on SS abilities within both groups through ANCOVAs. We examined whether poor SS abilities are associated with low BMI, poor body image, and restrictive eating behaviors using multiple regression analyses, with age, AN subtype and intelligence level as covariates. We found no significant difference in SS abilities between the participants with AN and healthy controls (p=.20). Participants with AN performed significantly worse on the SS task with activity-related stimuli as compared to the food-related (p=.015) and neutral stimuli (p<.001). HC participants did not show a difference in performance between the three SS tasks (p=.17). We did not find a significant association between SS abilities and low BMI (p=.78), poor body image (p=.233) and restrictive behaviors (p=.197). Based on our findings, poor SS abilities do not seem to be associated with adolescent AN, but more research should be done into this topic to strengthen these results. Future research must additionally focus on finding alternative measures that can be understood as risk factors, and actively seek out new approaches that can be used in the prevention of this disorder.Show less
Background: Suicidality is precipitated by a variety of mental vulnerabilities. There has been a dearth in knowledge about the interactions between psychological variables that can jeopardise...Show moreBackground: Suicidality is precipitated by a variety of mental vulnerabilities. There has been a dearth in knowledge about the interactions between psychological variables that can jeopardise university students into becoming suicidal. Aim: By exploring these interactions cross-sectionally using network analysis, this study sought to deduce risk profiles for student suicidality from 464 university students with self-reported mood and stress problems. Methods: Suicidality and clinical risk factors such as depression, anxiety, and posttraumatic stress were assessed using 13 self-report questionnaires. Interactions between those variables were analysed via connectivity and centrality indices in 114 and 74 participants identified at high risk for suicidal thoughts and suicidal attempts, respectively. Results: Symptoms of depression, posttraumatic stress, and anxiety displayed large interconnections in either centre. Perceived burdensomeness connected heavily with suicide thoughts and subjective symptoms of depression. Study-related stressors demonstrated centrality only at risk for suicide attempts. Conclusions: Suicide prevention programs for university students may benefit from targeting critical interactions between mental vulnerabilities for suicidality. Suicidal thoughts may be influenced especially by affecting perceived burdensomeness. Changes in depression may be crucial for achieving effects on perceived burdensomeness, posttraumatic stress, and anxiety.Show less
Research has shown that internationally adopted children have more behavioural problems during their primary school period than their classmates. This study helps to gain insight into the effects...Show moreResearch has shown that internationally adopted children have more behavioural problems during their primary school period than their classmates. This study helps to gain insight into the effects of a risk factor (stressful events) and a protective factor (socioeconomic status) on behavioural problems of adopted children. More specifically, the central question addressed in this study was: what are the effects of recent stressful events (0-2 years ago) and SES on behavioural problems of internationally adopted children at the age of both 7 and 14 years? The dataset used in this study (N = 74) is part of the Leiden Longitudinal Adoption Study. The children (26 boys and 48 girls) have been adopted at a very young age (M = 10.19 weeks) from Sri Lanka, South-Korea and Colombia. Using the Teacher Report Form (TRF), behavioural problems of the children at the age of 7 and 14 were measured. During these measurements stressful situations and SES were established. ANOVA’s were performed to determine the effects of these factors on behavioural problems. The results show that based on the data used in this study, there are no effects of stressful events and SES on behavioural problems of internationally adopted children. Stressful events is not a risk factor for adopted children having more behavioural problems. Socioeconomic status is not a protective factor for adopted children having less behavioural problems. This may be explained by the specific sample and the SES of the families (mostly middle class). Further research with a more varied research group and other research methods is recommended.Show less
