| Fragile, disturbed object relations have been cited in numerous case studies as an integral cause of youth suicide. However, these clinical case studies provide cursory attention to the qualitative aspects of object relations without empirical data to support their hypotheses. The present study used a comprehensive, quantitative scoring system to assess the various object relations dimensions as depicted in the suicidal youths' Thematic Apperception Test (TAT) stories. The Social Cognition and Object Relations Scales examined the youths' complexity of representations, affect tone of relationships, capacity for emotional investment, and understanding of social causality. Findings reveal that suicidal youths were less disturbed in their object relations than the nonsuicidal youths. In fact, nonsuicidal youths demonstrated significantly more hostile, malevolent representations and they presented more of a need-gratifying orientation to relationships than suicidal youths. Also contrary to previous findings, only the social causality scale differentiated children from adolescents in the present study. |
