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Hope and Suicide: An Empirical Investigation of the Relationship Between Hope Theory and The Interpersonal Theory of Suicide

Hardy, Jennifer L.
http://orcid.org/0000-0001-8795-8841
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=akron1531925195757865

Abstract Details

2018, Doctor of Philosophy, University of Akron, Counseling Psychology.
Suicide is a worldwide problem of significant magnitude and implication (Kleiman, Liu, & Riskind, 2014; Christensen, Batterham, Soubelet, & McKinnon, 2013). A vast amount of empirical attention has been devoted to understanding this complex phenomenon through its risk factors (Grewal & Porter, 2007); however, recent efforts have begun to attempt to understand suicide through its protective factors (Davidson & Wingate, 2011; O’Keefe & Wingate, 2013; Anestis, Mogerg, & Arnau; 2014) and multiple studies have highlighted the criticalness of evaluating and aiding in the development of hope in individuals who are in danger of engaging in suicidal behaviors (Haghighat, 2007; Hanna & Green 2004; Range & Penton, 1994). Very few, though, have empirically and directly investigated the effects of hope upon suicide (Davidson, Wingate, Rasmussen, & Slish, 2009; Davidson & Wingate, 2011; Grewal & Porter, 2007; Davidson, Wingate, Slish, & Rasmussen, 2010). This study was designed to investigate the relationship between hope and suicide in an effort to add to the literature regarding the potential role of protective factors in the assessment, prevention, and treatment of suicide. Both trait and state hope, as defined by Snyder’s hope theory (1994) and their subcomponents (agency and pathways), were evaluated regarding their association with suicidal desire and its subcomponents (thwarted belongingness and perceived burdensomeness) as defined by the interpersonal theory of suicide (Joiner, 2005). Multiple regressions revealed that trait hope and state hope account for a significant amount of variance in suicidal desire and its subcomponents. Hierarchical regressions indicated that hope adds variance in suicidal desire and its subcomponents above and beyond that which is accounted for by a set of demographic variables typically associated with suicidal risk. Finally, structural equation modeling results revealed that a partial mediation model including an indirect path from hope through hopelessness to suicidal desire and a direct path from hope to suicidal desire was a superior fit to the data than a full mediation model that included an indirect path from hope to suicidal desire through hopelessness only. The Chi-Square difference test revealed that the difference between the two models was 11.300, which was significant at p<.001, again, suggesting the partial mediation model provided a better fit to the data. This study informs the need to consider hope in the prevention, assessment, and treatment of suicidality. Implications for theory development and for the practice of counseling psychology are presented as are directions for future research.
John Queener (Committee Chair)
222 p.
Psychology
hope, suicide

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Hardy, J. L. (2018). Hope and Suicide: An Empirical Investigation of the Relationship Between Hope Theory and The Interpersonal Theory of Suicide [Doctoral dissertation, University of Akron]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=akron1531925195757865

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Hardy, Jennifer. Hope and Suicide: An Empirical Investigation of the Relationship Between Hope Theory and The Interpersonal Theory of Suicide. 2018. University of Akron, Doctoral dissertation. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=akron1531925195757865.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Hardy, Jennifer. "Hope and Suicide: An Empirical Investigation of the Relationship Between Hope Theory and The Interpersonal Theory of Suicide." Doctoral dissertation, University of Akron, 2018. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=akron1531925195757865

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

akron1531925195757865
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This open access ETD is published by University of Akron and OhioLINK.