BACKGROUND: Interpersonal problem-solving difficulties constitute a suicide risk factor that may be particularly relevant among college students. Most studies have examined general interpersonal problem-solving; however, context-specific abilities may have greater clinical implications.
AIM: This study examined whether individuals with and without a history of suicidal thoughts and behaviors differed in context-specific interpersonal problem-solving.
METHOD: Undergraduate students (n = 112) completed a brief interview and interpersonal problem-solving tasks with positive (e.g., initiating romantic relationship) and negative (i.e., physical revenge) resolutions.
RESULTS: Individuals with a history of suicide ideation generated more effective solutions and more alternatives in the negative-resolution scenario; no significant differences were identified for the positive-resolution scenarios. No group differences were found based on suicide attempt status. Limitations: Our results do not account for the mechanisms that influence problem-solving abilities in negative-resolution scenarios.
CONCLUSION: Clinical efforts may benefit from targeting the translation of interpersonal problem-solving abilities to situations with positive resolutions.