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Cited by 814Suicide and Self-Harm StudiesDeath Anxiety and Social ExclusionHomicide, Infanticide, and Child Abuse

Main predictions of the interpersonal–psychological theory of suicidal behavior: Empirical tests in two samples of young adults

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Joiner, Thomas E., Van Orden, Kimberly A., Witte, Tracy K., Selby, Edward A., Ribeiro, Jessica D., Lewis, Robyn, Rudd, M. David·2009·Journal of Abnormal Psychology
DOI 10.1037/a0016500PMC PMC2846517
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Abstract

The interpersonal-psychological theory of suicidal behavior (T. E. Joiner, 2005) makes 2 overarching predictions: (a) that perceptions of burdening others and of social alienation combine to instill the desire for death and (b) that individuals will not act on the desire for death unless they have developed the capability to do so. This capability develops through exposure and thus habituation to painful and/or fearsome experiences and is posited by the theory to be necessary for overcoming powerful self-preservation pressures. Two studies tested these predictions. In Study 1, the interaction of (low) family social support (cf. social alienation or low belonging) and feeling that one does not matter (cf. perceived burdensomeness) predicted current suicidal ideation, beyond depression indices. In Study 2, the 3-way interaction among a measure of low belonging, a measure of perceived burdensomeness, and lifetime number of suicide attempts (viewed as a strong predictor of the level of acquired capability for suicide) predicted current suicide attempt (vs. ideation) among a clinical sample of suicidal young adults, again beyond depression indices and other key covariates. Implications for the understanding, treatment, and prevention of suicidal behavior are discussed.

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Crossref · 10.1037/a0016500

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  • The Interpersonal Theory of Suicide is supported by several empirical studies linking thwarted belongingness and perceived burdensomeness to greater suicide risk, though these studies yielded small-to-moderate effects.

    “This theory is supported by several empirical studies linking thwarted belongingness and perceived burdensomeness to greater suicide risk (for a systematic review and meta-analysis, see Chu et al., 2017). Notably, however, these studies yielded small-to-moderate effects (Chu et al., 2017; Joiner et al., 2009).”

    From Toward objective characterizations of suicide risk: A narrative review of laboratory-based cognitive and behavioral tasks (2023) · cites this paper as Joiner et al., 2009

    The General Discussion says some of Joiner et al.'s effect sizes were small, supporting the caution about effect magnitude. It also says some effects were similar to traditionally strong effects, so this paper does not establish that the studies cited collectively yielded only small-to-moderate effects. (LLM, conf=0.86)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured

  • The Selected Group's engagement on mental health topics with Replika was 43%, compared to typical student outreach to counseling (20%) and therapy (4%).

    “A prediction that more students might use mental health services if delivered by an ISA is consonant with the patterns of reports of typical student outreach to counseling or therapy resources (20% and 4%) versus our Selected Group’s engagement on these topics with Replika (43%) (Appendix A)41.”

    From Loneliness and suicide mitigation for students using GPT3-enabled chatbots (2024) · cites this paper as [41]

    The Study 1 and Study 2 Method passages describe samples and treatment of suicidal young adults, but do not report typical student outreach to counseling (20%) or therapy (4%). Searches for those rates and for Replika engagement (43%) found no passage addressing the comparison. (LLM, conf=0.76)

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Research works printed but not linked: 1

  1. Vega WA Gil AG Drug use and ethnicity in early adolescence Longitudinal Research in the Social and Behavioral Sciences: An Interdisciplinary Series 1998 New York Plenum Press

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Authors
Joiner, T. E., Van Orden, K. A., Witte, T. K., Selby, E. A., Ribeiro, J. D., Lewis, R., & Rudd, M. D.
Affiliations
  • Florida State University (US)
  • Texas Tech University (US)
ORCID
Venue
Journal of Abnormal Psychology
Publisher
American Psychological Association (APA)
Published
2009-08
Volume
118
Issue
3
Pages
634-646
ISSN
  • 0021-843X (ISSN-L)
  • 1939-1846
DOI
10.1037/a0016500
PMC
PMC2846517
OpenAlex
W2021844788
Cited by
814
References
62
Citations by year
2026: 41 · 2025: 53 · 2024: 48 · 2023: 50 · 2022: 64 · 2021: 45 · 2020: 41 · 2019: 61 · 2018: 46 · 2017: 61 · 2016: 74 · 2015: 65 · 2014: 45 · 2013: 53 · 2012: 36
FWCI
23.04
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Journal of Abnormal Psychology (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
Funders
National Institute of Mental Health (F31 MH077386, F31 MH081396)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Suicide and Self-Harm Studies
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Death Anxiety and Social Exclusion
  • Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Homicide, Infanticide, and Child Abuse
Keywords
suicidal ideation, suicide attempts, perceived burdensomeness, social alienation, family social support, sense of belonging, acquired capability for suicide, young adults, depression, suicide prevention
MeSH terms
Antidepressive Agents, Attitude to Death, Mental Disorders, Female, Humans, Interpersonal Relations, Male, Motivation, Patient Admission, Personality Inventory, Problem Solving, Psychological Theory, Psychometrics, Psychotherapy, Risk Factors, Social Alienation, Social Identification, Social Support, Suicide, Attempted, Comorbidity, Young Adult

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