The Lior Tsfaty Center for Suicide and Mental Pain Studies, Ruppin Academic Center, Emek Hefer, Israel.
Department of Behavioral Sciences, Ruppin Academic Center, Emek Hefer, Israel.
Crisis. 2022 Jul;43(4):278-288. doi: 10.1027/0227-5910/a000784. Epub 2021 Jun 15.
While belongingness has frequently been investigated in the general population as an antidote to experiencing depression, suicidal thoughts, and suicidal behavior, it has rarely been evaluated as a protective factor among individuals bereaved by suicide. We examined whether perceived belongingness could moderate the differences between suicide-bereaved, suicide-exposed, and nonexposed respondents regarding depression, suicide ideation, and suicide attempts. We conducted an online survey of the adult Israeli population ( = 806), with 203 suicide-bereaved, 266 suicide-exposed, and 377 nonexposed respondents. Participants completed several questionnaires tapping depression and suicidality as well as perceived belongingness levels. Individuals bereaved by suicide reported the highest levels of depression, suicide ideation, and suicide attempts in comparison with suicide-exposed and nonexposed individuals. However, belongingness was found to moderate these distinctions concerning suicide ideation and suicide attempts. Belongingness was assessed by only a single question, and the online survey suffered from a relatively high nonresponse rate. Our results suggest that belongingness may act as a potent antidote to the adverse mental health consequences among individuals bereaved by suicide. Clinicians should accord adequate attention to fostering social connectedness among their clients bereaved by suicide.
归属感通常在普通人群中被研究作为预防抑郁、自杀念头和自杀行为的方法，但在自杀丧亲者中作为保护因素的评估却很少。我们研究了归属感是否可以调节自杀丧亲者、自杀暴露者和未暴露者在抑郁、自杀意念和自杀企图方面的差异。我们对以色列成年人（n=806）进行了一项在线调查，其中 203 名自杀丧亲者、266 名自杀暴露者和 377 名未暴露者。参与者完成了几个评估抑郁和自杀倾向以及归属感水平的问卷。与自杀暴露者和未暴露者相比，自杀丧亲者报告的抑郁、自杀意念和自杀企图水平最高。然而，归属感被发现可以调节自杀意念和自杀企图方面的这些差异。归属感仅通过一个问题进行评估，并且在线调查的非响应率相对较高。我们的结果表明，归属感可能是自杀丧亲者心理健康不良后果的有效解药。临床医生应该关注在丧亲的客户中培养社交联系。
