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...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
Background: Suicidality has become the most common cause of death for younger individuals. With increasing suicide rates across the globe suicidal ideation (SI) has received a lot of attention not...Show moreBackground: Suicidality has become the most common cause of death for younger individuals. With increasing suicide rates across the globe suicidal ideation (SI) has received a lot of attention not only because of its occurrence in a non-clinical population but also due to its predictive quality of suicidal behavior. Recent literature arising out of the COVID-19 era indicated that high loneliness is a predictor higher SI. Current theories of SI emphasized the identification of external risk factors for SI but have neglected the participating role of the self during SI. Objective: That is, the present paper aimed to introduce the ego function mentalization from the school of psychoanalysis and psychodynamics to illuminate the limitations of current SI theories. Consequently, this study investigated the moderating effects of mentalization on the link between loneliness and SI. Method and results: In this cross-sectional design, students aged 17-26 (N=112) filled out online, self-report questionnaires measuring SI, loneliness, and mentalization. The bivariate correlation test showed that loneliness is positively associated with loneliness (rs = .6, p < .001). Findings from the hierarchical analysis indicate that this positive relationship is moderated by mentalization (R2 = .425, b = .01, F (1,108) = 5.01, p = .027). In particular, the interaction effect of loneliness and SI suggests a strengthening of the link between loneliness and SI as mentalization scores increase. Conclusion: The study highlights the importance of mentalization as a moderator of the critical relationship between loneliness and SI in a non-clinical juvenile sample. In essence, the findings invite clinicians to introduce ego functions when investigating the emergence, maintenance, and progression of self-destructive ideation.Show less
