An Examination of Social Comparison and Suicide Ideation Through the Lens of the Integrated Motivational–Volitional Model of Suicidal Behavior
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We aimed to investigate whether negative social comparisons are associated with key components of the integrated motivational‐volitional (IMV) model of suicidal behavior. Specifically, we investigated the relationship between negative social comparisons, suicide ideation, defeat, entrapment, socially prescribed perfectionism, and resilience. Adult participants (N = 422) completed an online survey comprised of a range of psychological measures. An initial regression analysis indicated that negative social comparisons were associated with suicide ideation. Three mediation models were tested based on the IMV model, all controlling for depressive symptoms. In the first, social comparison partially mediated the relationship between socially prescribed perfectionism and defeat. In the second, defeat mediated the relationship between negative social comparisons and entrapment, and resilience moderated the relationship when defeat was high. In the final model, entrapment mediated the relationship between defeat and suicide ideation, with resilience moderating this relationship when entrapment was high. These findings are novel and lend support to the IMV model. The clinical implications include highlighting the importance of targeting resilience given its potential association with defeat and entrapment.
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Individuals who are more sensitive to the (perceived) social evaluation of others are more likely to experience feelings of defeat and entrapment.
“The IMV model contends that individuals who are more sensitive to the (perceived) social evaluation of others are more likely to experience feelings of defeat and entrapment, and Wetherall et al.'s study provides support for this”
From The integrated motivational–volitional model of suicidal behaviour (2018) · cites this paper as [69]
When entrapment was high, resilience moderated the relationship between defeat and suicidal ideation.
“Furthermore, when entrapment was high, resilience also moderated the relationship between defeat and suicidal ideation”
From The integrated motivational–volitional model of suicidal behaviour (2018) · cites this paper as [69]
In Wetherall et al.'s study, the relationship between socially prescribed perfectionism and defeat was partially mediated by negative social comparisons.
“in Wetherall et al.'s study [69], the relationship between socially prescribed perfectionism and defeat was partially mediated by negative social comparisons”
From The integrated motivational–volitional model of suicidal behaviour (2018) · cites this paper as [69]
Entrapment was a mediator of the relationship between defeat and suicidal ideation cross-sectionally.
“Wetherall et al. [69] also found that entrapment was a mediator of the relationship between defeat and suicidal ideation cross-sectionally, supporting the IMV model's prediction”
From The integrated motivational–volitional model of suicidal behaviour (2018) · cites this paper as [69]
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The integrated motivational–volitional model of suicidal behaviour
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- Authors
- Wetherall, K., Robb, K. A., & O'Connor, R. C.
- Affiliations
- Gartnavel General Hospital (GB)
- University of Glasgow (GB)
- Suicidal Behavior Research Laboratory Academic Centre Gartnavel Royal Hospital Institute of Health and Wellbeing University of Glasgow Glasgow UK
- Corresponding author
- Wetherall, Karen
- Venue
- Suicide and Life-Threatening Behavior
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Published
- 2018-01-06
- Volume
- 49
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 167-182
- ISSN
- 0363-0234 (ISSN-L)
- 1943-278X
- OpenAlex
- W2765589534
- Cited by
- 77
- References
- 55
- Citations by year
- 2026: 10 · 2025: 7 · 2024: 8 · 2023: 15 · 2022: 10 · 2021: 13 · 2020: 10 · 2019: 2 · 2018: 2
- FWCI
- 7.92
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- green
- eprints.gla.ac.uk
- Licence
- Locations
- Suicide and Life-Threatening Behavior (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- ENLIGHTEN (Jurnal Bimbingan dan Konseling Islam) (acceptedVersion, cc-by-sa)
- Funders
- University of Glasgow
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Suicide and Self-Harm Studies
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Perfectionism, Procrastination, Anxiety Studies
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Death Anxiety and Social Exclusion
- Keywords
- social comparison, suicidal ideation, integrated motivational-volitional model, defeat, entrapment, socially prescribed perfectionism, resilience, suicidal behavior, mediation, moderation, depressive symptoms
- MeSH terms
- Adolescent, Adult, Depression, Female, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Models, Psychological, Motivation, Suicide, Attempted, Young Adult, Suicidal Ideation
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