Background Suicide is a leading cause of death worldwide. The numbers in The Netherlands confirm this trend, where suicide is the leading cause of death in people aged 10-29. A significant...Show moreBackground Suicide is a leading cause of death worldwide. The numbers in The Netherlands confirm this trend, where suicide is the leading cause of death in people aged 10-29. A significant predictor of suicide is perfectionism: high levels of perfectionism can increase the risk of suicidal ideation. Suicide can be seen as an attack against the self that goes against our innate drive for self-preservation that our ego is involved in. The ego is a component of the self, according to Freud’s Psychoanalytic Theory. It mediates between the super-ego and the id and uses ego functions to do so. Defense mechanisms are examples of these ego functions. They protect the self against internal stress or anxiety. Objective In the last 50 years, our predictive or preventive capabilities regarding SI have not been improved. By adding Psychoanalytic Theory to current theories, we aim to improve their predictive abilities. The question that is central in this project is: “Do mature defense mechanisms moderate the relation between perfectionism and suicidal ideation in university students aged 17-26?” Methods The study followed a cross-sectional design and data was collected through self-report questionnaires. The instruments used were the Multidimensional Perfectionism Scale, the Suicidal Ideation Attributes Scale and the 30-item Defense Mechanism Rating Scale. The sample size was N = 98 and data was analyzed with hierarchical regression. Results The analysis showed that perfectionism can increase the risk of SI (F = 8.20, p = .005) and that mature defense mechanisms can decrease the risk of SI (F = 7.23, p = .017). However, the analysis reported non-significant results for the moderation of mature defense mechanisms in the relation between perfectionism and SI (F = 4.85, p = .673). Conclusion While the RQ cannot be confirmed with this analysis, the study does show positive relations between perfectionism and SI and negative relations between SI and mature defenses. These findings can contribute to the current literature and highlight the importance for further research. This research should be conducted with a bigger and diversified sample.Show less
Background: In the Netherlands, over 1,800 people annually commit suicide. Existing suicide models overlook qualitative context and Social Determinants. Thus, this study focused on understanding...Show moreBackground: In the Netherlands, over 1,800 people annually commit suicide. Existing suicide models overlook qualitative context and Social Determinants. Thus, this study focused on understanding the Social Determinants of Suicidal Ideation to find what makes life liveable. Research Questions: Focusing on a non-clinical sample of college students, we addressed several questions: “Does Financial Stress moderate the relation between Subjective Social Status and Suicidal Ideation?”, “Are there differences between college students who get Social Support or not for the relation between their Subjective Social Status and Suicidal Ideation?”, “How do aspects of Subjective Social Status influence Suicidal Ideation?”, and “How does Social Support affect the influence of Financial Stress factors on Suicidal Ideation”. Methods: The cross-sectional collection and analysis of quantitative questionnaires started off this two- phase study, followed by cross-sectional collection and analysis of qualitative interviews for four purposefully sampled participants. The explanatory sequential mixed methods design guaranteed integration. Results: Financial Stress did not moderate but underly the relationship between Subjective Social Status and Suicidal Ideation. Lower Family Income and Financial Insecurity were found to be determinants of Suicidal Ideation. Social Support moderated the relation between Subjective Social Status and Suicidal Ideation. Family Income and Financial Insecurity were found to be main aspects of Subjective Social Status determining Suicidal Ideation. Social Support was found to protect against Suicidal Ideation. Conclusion: By identifying Financial Stress, lacking Social Support, and lower Family Income as Social Determinants of Suicidal Ideation, we provide future research opportunities to work towards effective interventions for Suicidal Ideation by focusing on what makes life liveable.Show less
Background: Numerous social and economic conditions (e.g., family problems) have a large impact on the mental health of individuals. Studies have suggested that higher levels of family conflict...Show moreBackground: Numerous social and economic conditions (e.g., family problems) have a large impact on the mental health of individuals. Studies have suggested that higher levels of family conflict increase the levels of suicidal ideation experienced by individuals. Objective: To address and understand this issue better, the following research aimed to identify a relationship between family conflict and suicidal ideation, as well as to discover which subscale, if not both, of family conflict (physical and emotional neglect) would be a significant predictor of suicidal ideation. Method: A non-clinical sample of 133 Leiden University students aged 17 to 26 were recruited. The Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ) and the Suicidal Ideation Attributes Scale (SIDAS) were used to test the hypotheses. Results: Results revealed a significant relationship between family conflict and suicidal ideation (r (133) = .230, p= .008). Results further revealed that emotional neglect was a significant predictor of suicidal ideation (F (2,130) = 2.065, p= .041), whereas physical neglect was not (F (2,130) =.007, p= .994). Conclusions: Professionals, and importantly universities, should be more conscientious and aware of the impact that both past and current family problems/conflict can have on adolescents’ and young adults’ experiences with suicidal ideation.Show less
Background: In light of the framework of the Social Determinants of Mental Health (SDoMH) developed by prof. Crick Lund, this study investigated the relationship between religion and Suicidal...Show moreBackground: In light of the framework of the Social Determinants of Mental Health (SDoMH) developed by prof. Crick Lund, this study investigated the relationship between religion and Suicidal Ideation (SI). Suicide is one of the leading causes of death worldwide and therefore its subdomains, amongst which SI, require specific attention. Religion is a major social determinant as 84.4% of the world’s population is religiously affiliated. Objective: Investigating the relationship between religion and suicidal ideation in light of the SDoMH framework. Methods: A non-clinical sample of 133 Leiden University students aged 17 to 26 were recruited. SI was measured by means of the Suicidal Ideation Attributes Scale (SIDAS) and religion was measured with two demographical questions regarding self-perceived religiosity and religious service attendance. Results: No significant relationship between SI and self-perceived religiosity (t(131) = -.334, p = .739), and between SI and religious service attendance (t(131) = 1.474, p = .143) was found. Furthermore, a SI prevalence of 51.8% was found. Conclusion: This study reveals the need for a detailed and structured approach to investigating the concepts of religion and suicidal ideation within future research into the SDoMH, as well as the possibility that the prevalence of SI has increased.Show less
Suicide is the second leading cause of death among university students. Insomnia symptoms have been established as a risk factor for suicidal ideation and feelings of thwarted belongingness have...Show moreSuicide is the second leading cause of death among university students. Insomnia symptoms have been established as a risk factor for suicidal ideation and feelings of thwarted belongingness have been proposed to explain the link between insomnia symptoms and suicidal ideation. The purpose of this study was to investigate the association between insomnia symptoms and suicidal ideation, with thwarted belongingness mediating the relationship, in a sample of Dutch university students. The study assessed participants crosssectionally (n = 218) and after six months (n = 83). Participants completed the Insomnia Severity Index, Beck Scale for Suicide Ideation, the Interpersonal Needs Questionnaire, Beck Depression Inventory, and the Beck Anxiety Inventory. Logistic regression and mediation analyses were conducted. Symptoms of depression and anxiety were controlled for. Crosssectionally, insomnia symptoms were significantly associated with suicidal ideation. When adjusting for symptoms of depression and anxiety, the association became nonsignificant and only symptoms of depression emerged as an independent predictor. Thwarted belongingness mediated the relationship between insomnia symptoms and suicidal ideation cross-sectionally. When depressive symptoms were controlled for, the mediation model became nonsignificant. Longitudinally, results suggested no predictive effect of insomnia symptoms on suicidal ideation and no mediation effect of thwarted belongingness on the relationship. The results did not support insomnia symptoms as an independent risk factor for suicidal ideation in university students, which underscores the need for more rigorous research to clarify this relationship for the future.Show less
