Exploring the role of protective factors in the development of suicidal ideation and behaviour

Background: Suicide is a global public health problem. The integrated motivational-volitional (IMV) model is a leading psychological theory of suicide which posits that perceptions of defeat and feelings of entrapment are key to the development of suicidal ideation. Emerging evidence has suggested that factors such as resilience and social support may have a moderating role in the IMV model but these protective factors are under researched. This study aims to explore the role of protective factors in the IMV model. Methods: This project analysed data from an existing study of 3,508 young adults aged 18 to 34 years recruited from Scotland. Participants completed a 1 hour-long interview which included a number of psychological measures to assess a range of factors including social support, optimism and resilience. Results: Multivariate analyses indicated that the relationship between defeat and suicidal ideation was mediated by feelings of entrapment. The pathways from defeat to entrapment, and from entrapment to suicide ideation were moderated by optimism, resilience and social support. The buffering effects were greatest when levels of entrapment were high, with low levels of protective factors being associated with increased suicidal ideation. No gender differences were found in levels of suicidal ideation, but they were evident in depression, defeat, resilience and optimism. Limitations: The cross-sectional nature of the data, preclude analyses related to causality. Conclusion: Low levels of optimism, resilience and social support are associated with increased feelings of entrapment, and increased susceptibility to suicidal ideation. These findings have important clinical and theoretical implications