Citation

Hogge I, Blankenship P. J. Clin. Psychol. (Hoboken) 2020; ePub(ePub): ePub.

Affiliation

Department of Counseling, Administration, Supervision, and Adult Learning, Cleveland State University, Cleveland, Ohio.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2020, John Wiley and Sons)

DOI

10.1002/jclp.22964

PMID

32399988

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: We investigated the relationship between self-concealment-a tendency to hide distressing information-and suicidality, via two mediators: (a) unmet interpersonal needs and (b) help-seeking attitudes.

METHOD: A sample of young adults (18-25 years) was recruited online to complete a self-report survey questionnaire (n = 245). A parallel multiple mediation model was analyzed using the PROCESS macro (Hayes, 2013, Methodology in the social sciences. Introduction to mediation, moderation, and conditional process analysis: A regression-based approach. New York, NY: Guilford Press) in SPSS.

RESULTS: There was a significant positive relationship between self-concealment and suicidality. This relationship was partially mediated by unmet interpersonal needs. Although self-concealment was associated with more negative attitudes toward seeking professional psychological help, these help-seeking attitudes were not significantly related to suicidality.

CONCLUSIONS: Our results highlight the importance of interpersonal factors in suicide. Unmet interpersonal needs emerged as a mechanism by which self-concealment contributes to increased suicidality. We review implications for research, clinical practice, and prevention.

© 2020 Wiley Periodicals LLC.

Language: en

Keywords

help-seeking; self-concealment; suicide