Thomas Joiner has proposed an interpersonal theory of suicide in which thwarted belongingness, perceived burdensomeness, and an acquired capability to commit self-harm predict suicidal behavior. In an exploratory study, a questionnaire was administered to 38 jail inmates to test the applicability of this theory to these inmates. Only thwarted belongingness was associated with past suicidal behavior and the inmates' own prediction of the likelihood of future suicidal behavior.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
HayesL. M. (2010) National study of jail suicide 20 years later.Washington, DC: National Institute of Corrections.
2.
JoinerT. E. (2005) Why people die by suicide.Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press.
TartaroC.LesterD. (2009) Suicide and self-harm in prisons and jails.Lanham, MD: Lexington Books.
5.
Van OrdenK. A.LynamM. E.HollerD.JoinerT. E. (2006) Perceived burdensomeness as an indicator of suicidal symptoms. Cognitive Therapy & Research, 30, 457–467.
6.
Van OrdenK. A.WitteT. K.CukrowiczK. C.BraithwaiteS. R.SelbyE. A.JoinerT. E. (2010) The interpersonal theory of suicide. Psychological Review, 117, 575–600.
7.
Van OrdenK. A.WitteT. K.GordonK. H.BenderT. W.JoinerT. E. (2008) Suicidal desire and the capability for suicide. Journal of Consulting & Clinical Psychology, 76, 72–83.
