How Is the Presence of Company Related to Thwarted Belongingness in Real Time? Taking a Closer Look at the Conceptualization of the Construct of the Interpersonal Theory of Suicide

Nina Hallensleben, Heide Glaesmer, Thomas Forkmann, Dajana Rath, Maria Strauss, Anette Kersting and Lena Spangenberg
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Nina Hallensleben: Department of Medical Psychology and Medical Sociology, University of Leipzig, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
Heide Glaesmer: Department of Medical Psychology and Medical Sociology, University of Leipzig, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
Thomas Forkmann: Department of Clinical Psychology, University of Duisburg-Essen, 45141 Essen, Germany
Dajana Rath: Department of Clinical Psychology, University of Duisburg-Essen, 45141 Essen, Germany
Maria Strauss: Department of Psychiatry, University of Leipzig, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
Anette Kersting: Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University of Leipzig, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
Lena Spangenberg: Department of Medical Psychology and Medical Sociology, University of Leipzig, 04103 Leipzig, Germany

IJERPH, 2020, vol. 17, issue 13, 1-14

Abstract: (1) Background: The role of thwarted belongingness (TB) in predicting suicidal ideation, as originally assumed by the Interpersonal Theory of Suicide, is repeatedly challenged by empirical findings. This could be due to an inadequate conceptualization of the construct of TB that is assumed to be influenced by intrapersonal and interpersonal factors. (2) Methods: We examined the associations of TB with intrapersonal variables related to depression, and with interpersonal variables related to an individual’s actual social environment. We analyzed data from an ecological momentary assessment study in psychiatric inpatients with depressive disorders. N = 73 participants rated momentary TB, depressive affect and status of company up to 10 times per day, over a period of six days, on smartphones. (3) Results: TB was lower when assessed while participants were in company compared to when they were alone, and the more desired the company was, the less TB was experienced. Individuals who had a partnership experienced less momentary TB. Furthermore, higher levels of momentary depressive affect, as well as more stable levels of depression, were related to higher levels of TB, and the relation between the presence of company and TB was weaker for more depressed persons. (4) Conclusions: Our findings can be seen as evidence that both intrapersonal and interpersonal factors relate to TB, and thus support the conceptualization of TB as proposed by the Interpersonal Theory of Suicide.

Keywords: interpersonal theory of suicide; thwarted belongingness; depression; company; partnership; intrapersonal factors; interpersonal factors; ecological momentary assessments; inpatients (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
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