Enhancing attributional style as a protective factor in suicide
详细信息    查看全文
文摘

Background

We applied recovery model of cognitive vulnerability to the suicide. Previous research has found that individuals who make global and stable attributions to positive events (an enhancing attributional style) are more resilient to depression and recover faster if they do become depressed. Building upon past research, we hypothesized that an enhancing attributional style would buffer the relationship between depressive symptoms and suicidal ideation. We also explored possible mediators of this effect. Specifically, we hypothesized that the reduction in suicidal ideation may be due to changes in depressive symptoms.

Method

Two hundred and nine diverse undergraduates participated in a four-week prospective study.

Results

Results of a moderated Poisson regression analysis demonstrate that enhancing attributional style buffers the relationship between baseline depressive symptoms and followup suicidal ideation, controlling for baseline depressive symptoms. A mediated moderation analysis using structural equation modeling did not support the hypothesis that the reduction in suicidal ideation was due to a reduction in depressive symptoms.

Limitations

Limitations include an unselected college sample with a low base rate of suicidal ideation, the use of self-report measures, and assessing only suicidal ideation not behaviors.

Conclusions

Results suggest that enhancing attributional style is a viable protective factor in suicide. Moreover, the buffering effect is due to direct reduction in suicidal ideation, rather than simply a reduction in depressive symptoms. Since attributional styles are modifiable, findings suggest that modifying negative attributional styles can be useful to prevent suicide in a clinical setting.

© 2004-2018 中国地质图书馆版权所有 京ICP备05064691号 京公网安备11010802017129号

地址:北京市海淀区学院路29号 邮编:100083

电话:办公室:(+86 10)66554848;文献借阅、咨询服务、科技查新:66554700