Citation

Saint-Cyr N, Gallagher B, Cramer RJ, Rasmussen S. Int. J. Soc. Psychiatry 2021; ePub(ePub): ePub.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2021, SAGE Publishing)

DOI

10.1177/00207640211003606

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Suicidal behavior remains a pressing problem in the United Kingdom. Continued theory development is a critical step toward designing effective prevention. AIMS: The present study tested a novel element to suicide theory, the Desire for Control, for its direct and moderating roles within the Integrated Motivational-Volitional (IMV) Model of Suicidal Behavior.

METHOD: An online-administered cross-sectional suicide risk survey study (n = 116) was conducted among adults living in the United Kingdom.

RESULTS: Mean suicidal ideation scores were in the non-clinical range. DOC Leadership and Destiny Control were associated with good mental health. DOC Decision Avoidance was associated with poor mental health. DOC Decision Avoidance also acted as a motivational moderator in which the entrapment-suicidal thinking link was worse among those high in decisional avoidance.

CONCLUSION: DOC represents a novel, valuable addition to suicide theory and may inform suicide-specific psychotherapeutic intervention. Additional research is needed to full understand the role of DOC and its factor structures in the IMV.

Language: en

Keywords

Suicidal ideation; defeat; desire for control; entrapment; integrated motivational-volitional model