Citation

Orbach I, Mikulincer M, Gilboa-Schechtman E, Sirota P. Suicide Life Threat. Behav. 2003; 33(3): 231-241.

Affiliation

Department of Psychology, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat-Gan, Israel. orbachi@mail.biu.ac.il

Copyright

(Copyright © 2003, American Association of Suicidology, Publisher John Wiley and Sons)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

14582834

Abstract

Shneidman proposed that intense mental pain is related to suicide. Relatedly, Frankl argued that the loss of life's meaning is related to intense mental pain. The first goal of this research was to test Shneidman's proposition by comparing the mental pain of suicidal and nonsuicidal individuals. Meaning in life and optimism are the polar opposites of suicidality and hopelessness, and the examination of these variables in relation to mental pain was undertaken to provide a test of Frankl's proposition. In two studies, a relationship between a newly developed measure of mental pain--the Orbach & Mikulincer Mental Pain Scale, 2002 --and suicidal behavior and life meaning were examined. Results confirmed both propositions. Implications for the study of mental pain and suicide are discussed.