Carol Chu1, Melanie A Hom2, Megan L Rogers2, Ian H Stanley2, Fallon B Ringer-Moberg2, Matthew C Podlogar2, Jameson K Hirsch3, Thomas E Joiner2. 1. Florida State University, Department of Psychology, 1107 West Call St., Tallahassee, FL 32306, USA. Electronic address: chu@psy.fsu.edu. 2. Florida State University, Department of Psychology, 1107 West Call St., Tallahassee, FL 32306, USA. 3. East Tennessee State University, Department of Psychology, 420 Rogers-Stout Hall, Johnson City, TN 37614, USA.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Insomnia is a robust correlate of suicidal ideation and behavior. Preliminary research has identified thwarted belongingness (c.f. social disconnection) as an explanatory link between insomnia and suicidal ideation. OBJECTIVES: This study replicates and extends previous findings using both cross-sectional and longitudinal designs in four demographically diverse samples. Additionally, the specificity of thwarted belongingness was evaluated by testing anxiety as a rival mediator. METHOD: Self-report measures of insomnia symptoms, thwarted belongingness, suicidal ideation and behavior, and anxiety were administered in four adult samples: 469 undergraduate students, 352 psychiatric outpatients, 858 firefighters, and 217 primary care patients. RESULTS: More severe insomnia was associated with more severe thwarted belongingness and suicidality. Thwarted belongingness significantly accounted for the association between insomnia and suicidality, cross-sectionally and longitudinally, beyond anxiety. Notably, findings supported the specificity of thwarted belongingness: anxiety did not significantly mediate the association between insomnia and suicidality, and insomnia did not mediate the relation between thwarted belongingness and suicidality. LIMITATIONS: This study relied solely on self-report measures. Future studies incorporating objective sleep measurements are needed. CONCLUSION: Findings underscore the utility of assessing and addressing sleep disturbances and social disconnection to reduce suicide risk.
BACKGROUND:Insomnia is a robust correlate of suicidal ideation and behavior. Preliminary research has identified thwarted belongingness (c.f. social disconnection) as an explanatory link between insomnia and suicidal ideation. OBJECTIVES: This study replicates and extends previous findings using both cross-sectional and longitudinal designs in four demographically diverse samples. Additionally, the specificity of thwarted belongingness was evaluated by testing anxiety as a rival mediator. METHOD: Self-report measures of insomnia symptoms, thwarted belongingness, suicidal ideation and behavior, and anxiety were administered in four adult samples: 469 undergraduate students, 352 psychiatric outpatients, 858 firefighters, and 217 primary care patients. RESULTS: More severe insomnia was associated with more severe thwarted belongingness and suicidality. Thwarted belongingness significantly accounted for the association between insomnia and suicidality, cross-sectionally and longitudinally, beyond anxiety. Notably, findings supported the specificity of thwarted belongingness: anxiety did not significantly mediate the association between insomnia and suicidality, and insomnia did not mediate the relation between thwarted belongingness and suicidality. LIMITATIONS: This study relied solely on self-report measures. Future studies incorporating objective sleep measurements are needed. CONCLUSION: Findings underscore the utility of assessing and addressing sleep disturbances and social disconnection to reduce suicide risk.
Authors: Carol Chu; Jennifer M Buchman-Schmitt; Melanie A Hom; Ian H Stanley; Thomas E Joiner Journal: Psychiatry Res Date: 2016-03-29 Impact factor: 3.222
Authors: Ian H Stanley; Melanie A Hom; Joan L Luby; Paramjit T Joshi; Karen D Wagner; Graham J Emslie; John T Walkup; David A Axelson; Thomas E Joiner Journal: J Psychiatr Res Date: 2017-07-29 Impact factor: 4.791
Authors: Melanie A Hom; Ian H Stanley; Carol Chu; Michelle M Sanabria; Kirsten Christensen; Evan A Albury; Megan L Rogers; Thomas E Joiner Journal: J Clin Sleep Med Date: 2019-01-15 Impact factor: 4.062
Authors: Carol Chu; Melanie A Hom; Ian H Stanley; Anna R Gai; Matthew K Nock; Peter M Gutierrez; Thomas E Joiner Journal: J Consult Clin Psychol Date: 2017-11-27
Authors: Melanie A Hom; Carol Chu; Matthew E Schneider; Ingrid C Lim; Jameson K Hirsch; Peter M Gutierrez; Thomas E Joiner Journal: J Affect Disord Date: 2016-11-22 Impact factor: 4.839
Authors: Melanie A Hom; Jennifer L Hames; Lindsay P Bodell; Jennifer M Buchman-Schmitt; Carol Chu; Megan L Rogers; Bruno Chiurliza; Matthew S Michaels; Jessica D Ribeiro; Michael R Nadorff; E Samuel Winer; Ingrid C Lim; M David Rudd; Thomas E Joiner Journal: Psychiatry Res Date: 2017-03-23 Impact factor: 3.222
Authors: Carol Chu; Kristin L Walker; Ian H Stanley; Jameson K Hirsch; Jeffrey H Greenberg; M David Rudd; Thomas E Joiner Journal: J Pers Soc Psychol Date: 2017-06-26
Authors: Carol Chu; Melanie A Hom; Austin J Gallyer; Elizabeth A D Hammock; Thomas E Joiner Journal: J Affect Disord Date: 2018-09-18 Impact factor: 4.839
Authors: Andrew S Tubbs; Michael L Perlis; Mathias Basner; Subhajit Chakravorty; Waliuddin Khader; Fabian Fernandez; Michael A Grandner Journal: J Clin Psychiatry Date: 2020-02-25 Impact factor: 4.384
Authors: L Ongeri; C E McCulloch; T C Neylan; E Bukusi; S B Macfarlane; C Othieno; A K Ngugi; S M Meffert Journal: J Affect Disord Date: 2017-08-31 Impact factor: 4.839