Interpersonal Suicide Risk and Ideation: The Influence of Depression and Social Anxiety

The goal of the current report was to (1) theoretically and empirically integrate interpersonal theories addressing depression, social anxiety, and suicide and (2) document the interpersonal mechanisms through which social anxiety and depression increase risk for suicidal ideation. The authors examined the influence of depression and social anxiety on the interpersonal aspects of the interpersonal- psychological theory of suicide (Joiner, 2005) and suicidal ideation using structural equation modeling among 269 undergraduates. Results suggested that social anxiety was associated with thwarted belongingness, whereas depression was associated with burdensomeness and thwarted belongingness. these findings suggest potential pathways through which social anxiety and depression lead to increased suicide risk. in addition to clinical implications, ramifications for interpersonal theories of depression, anxiety, and suicide are discussed.