Perfectionism and Prospective Near-Term Suicidal Thoughts and Behaviors: The Mediation of Fear of Humiliation and Suicide Crisis Syndrome

Tyler Pia, Igor Galynker, Allison Schuck, Courtney Sinclair, Gelan Ying and Raffaella Calati
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Tyler Pia: Department of Psychiatry, Mount Sinai Beth Israel, New York, NY 10003, USA
Igor Galynker: Department of Psychiatry, Mount Sinai Beth Israel, New York, NY 10003, USA
Allison Schuck: Department of Psychiatry, Mount Sinai Beth Israel, New York, NY 10003, USA
Courtney Sinclair: Department of Psychiatry, Mount Sinai Beth Israel, New York, NY 10003, USA
Gelan Ying: Department of Psychiatry, Mount Sinai Beth Israel, New York, NY 10003, USA
Raffaella Calati: Department of Psychiatry, Mount Sinai Beth Israel, New York, NY 10003, USA

IJERPH, 2020, vol. 17, issue 4, 1-14

Abstract: Background : Perfectionism has been linked to suicide. According to the Narrative-Crisis Model of suicide, individuals with trait vulnerabilities are prone to develop a certain mindset, known as a Suicidal Narrative, which may precipitate the Suicide Crisis Syndrome (SCS), culminating in suicide. The purpose of this study was to investigate the association between perfectionism (trait vulnerability), fear of humiliation (component of the Suicidal Narrative), SCS, and prospective near-term suicidal thoughts and behaviors (STB). Methods: Adult psychiatric outpatient participants ( N = 336) were assessed at baseline with the Suicidal Narrative Inventory for perfectionism and fear of humiliation. The questions used to assess perfectionism were adapted from the Multidimensional Perfectionism Scale. The severity of the SCS was calculated using the Suicide Crisis Inventory. STB were assessed at baseline and after one month using the Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale. Serial mediation analyses were conducted using PROCESS version 3.3 in SPSS. Results : While the direct effect of perfectionism on prospective STB was not significant (b = 0.01, p = 0.19), the indirect effect of perfectionism on STB, through serial mediation by fear of humiliation and the SCS, was significant (indirect effect p = 0.007, 95% CI [0.003, 0.013]). The indirect effect was not significant for models that did not include both mediators. Limitations: Variables were assessed at one time only. Conclusion : Perfectionism did not directly modulate STB. Perfectionism may be related to suicidal behavior through fear of humiliation, leading to the SCS. These results support the Narrative-Crisis Model of suicide and clarify the role of perfectionism in the etiology of suicide.

Keywords: perfectionism; suicide/self-harm; fear of humiliation; psychiatric outpatients (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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