The Role of Perceived Social Support in the Association Between Stressful Life Events and Suicidal Behavior

Bibliographic Data

ID15523935
AuthorsBalpreet Panesar (0000-0002-5492-3615, McMaster University), Tea Rosic (0000-0001-7406-4056, McMaster University), Myanca Rodrigues (0000-0001-7953-773X, McMaster University), Nitika Sanger (0000-0002-5883-1873, McMaster University), Natasha Baptist-Mohseni (0000-0002-1121-7198, York University), Alannah Hillmer (0000-0002-5535-7432, McMaster University), Caroul Chawar (0000-0001-8935-5454, McMaster University), Alessia D’Elia (0000-0002-6512-4704, McMaster University), Luciano Minuzzi (0000-0001-7532-1851, McMaster University), Lehana Thabane (0000-0003-0355-9734, McMaster University), Zainab Samaan (0000-0002-5974-9361, Impact, corresponding author)
Year2021
Volume12
Pages699682-699682
Publication date2021-09-10
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueFrontiers in Psychiatry (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1664-0640 • E-ISSN: 1664-0640
PublisherFrontiers Media (PUBLISHER • CH)
DOI10.3389/fpsyt.2021.699682
PMID34566710
OpenAlexW3199530783
LanguageEN
Citations received5
References cited12

Background: Suicide is a serious public health concern for which there have been well-established protective and risk factors reported in literature. There is a lack of evidence on the indirect effects of other variables on these factors. Specifically, the association between stressful life events and suicidal behavior may be affected by perceived social support, but its role in this association is largely uninvestigated. Objectives: Thus, this paper aims to explore the role of perceived social support in the association between stressful life events and suicidal behavior. Perceived social support will be explored as a mediator and as a moderator in this association. Methods: Data were obtained from the Determinants of Suicidal Behavior Conventional and Emergent Risk (DISCOVER), a study conducted to identify risk factors of suicidal behavior. The study participants are individuals with suicide attempts admitted to hospital. Participants ( n = 343) were recruited from hospital setting. Suicidal behavior was measured using two outcomes (1) the occurrence of a suicide attempt (2) level of suicide intent as measured by the Pierce Suicide Intent Scale. Perceived social support was measured using the Sarason Social Support Questionnaire. Results: Stressful life events were significantly associated with suicide attempts (OR 1.440, 95% CI 1.440, 1.682, p p = 0.032). There was no significant mediation effect by perceived social support in the association between stressful life events and suicide attempts (Sobel's test statistic 1.64, p = 0.100). Perceived social support did not moderate the relationship between stressful life events and suicide attempts [(OR 1.007, 95% CI 0.987, 1.027, p = 0.514] or the relationship between stressful life events and level of suicidal intent (B -0.043, 95% CI -0.132, 0.046, p = 0.343). Conclusion: Stressful life events are associated with increased risk of suicide attempts. The study also identified an inverse relationship between stressful life events and perceived social support. These associations were independent of perceived social support. This study highlights the effects of stressful life events on suicide risk is not affected by perceived social support, requiring further investigation into measures to reduce the impact of social stressors on people with risk of suicide

Association (psychology · Injury prevention · Mediation · Medical emergency · Moderation · Poison control · Psychiatry · Sobel test · Social support · Suicide prevention · Clinical Psychology · Health disparities and outcomes · Medicine · Mental Health Treatment and Access · Psychology · Social Psychology · Suicide and Self-Harm Studies

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