Perceived Burdensomeness And Suicidality: Two Studies On The Suicide Notes Of Those Attempting And Those Completing Suicide
Abstract
From an evolutionary-psychological perspective, it has been argued that a sense of burdensomeness toward kin may erode self-preservational motives, which in turn, fosters suicidality. We reasoned that if this were so, perceived burdensomeness should specifically characterize those who complete suicide, even as compared to those who attempt suicide, whereas other dimensions (e.g., hopelessness, emotional pain) may not differentiate completers from attempters. Moreover, we predicted that perceived burdensomeness may be related to more lethal means of suicide among those who complete suicide. Two samples of suicide notes were rated on dimensions of burdensomeness, desire to control one's own feelings, desire to control others, emotional pain, and hopelessness. Perceived burdensomeness significantly correlated with completer status and with more lethal means of suicide, even controlling for other relevant dimensions. The other dimensions, in contrast, did not significantly correlate with suicide completion or with lethality of method. The possibility that perceived burdensomeness is a relatively specific feature of completed suicide deserves continued study.
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In suicide notes, perceived burdensomeness distinguished people who made lethal attempts from those who made non-lethal attempts, and it characterized the notes of those who died.
“In a comparison of suicide notes of individuals who made lethal versus non-lethal attempts, the presence of perceptions of burdensomeness on others differentiated between those who attempted and survived and those who attempted and died – with perceptions of burdensomeness characterizing the notes of those who died (Joiner, Pettit, Walker, Voelz, Cruz, Rudd, et al., 2002).”
From The interpersonal theory of suicide. (2010) · cites this paper as Joiner, Pettit, Walker, Voelz, Cruz, Rudd, et al., 2002
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The interpersonal theory of suicide.
Van Orden, K. A., Witte, T. K., Cukrowicz, K. C., Braithwaite, S. R., Selby, E. A., & Joiner, T. E. (2010) · Psychological Review · doi:10.1037/a0018697 · Cited by 5,292 · see citing works
“Second, an examination of the content of suicide notes found higher levels of perceived burdensomeness in notes from individuals who died by suicide compared to notes from individuals who attempted but survived (Joiner et al., 2002).”
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- Authors
- Joiner, T. E., Pettit, J. W., Walker, R. L., Voelz, Z. R., Cruz, J., Rudd, M. D., & Lester, D.
- Affiliations
- Florida State University (US)
- Baylor University (US)
- Stockton University (US)
- Venue
- Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology
- Publisher
- Guilford Publications
- Published
- 2002-11
- Volume
- 21
- Issue
- 5
- Pages
- 531-545
- ISSN
- 0736-7236 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2015925347
- Cited by
- 250
- References
- 5
- Citations by year
- 2026: 7 · 2025: 6 · 2024: 10 · 2023: 7 · 2022: 12 · 2021: 14 · 2020: 14 · 2019: 17 · 2018: 12 · 2017: 13 · 2016: 14 · 2015: 20 · 2014: 18 · 2013: 15 · 2012: 19
- FWCI
- 3.38
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Suicide and Self-Harm Studies
- Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Homicide, Infanticide, and Child Abuse
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Mental Health via Writing
- Keywords
- perceived burdensomeness, suicidality, suicide completion, suicide attempts, suicide notes, evolutionary psychology, self-preservation, kinship, hopelessness, emotional pain
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