Exploring The Applicability Of The Interpersonal Model Of Suicide In College Students And Older Adults

Objectives:College students and older adults are two high-risk groups of suicide,and both of them suffer impaired interpersonal relationship.The interpersonal theory of suicide explain the relationship between suicide and interpersonal needs.The purpose of this study was to explore the applicability of the interpersonal theory of suicide among college students and older adults.Specifically,1)Testing the reliability and validity of the Interpersonal Needs Questionnaire(INQ)in two high-risk groups of suicide;2)Exploring the impact of two latent variables of Interpersonal Theory--thwarted belongingness(TB)and perceived burdensomeness(PB)on suicidal ideation and comparing PB,TB,and suicidal ideation between college students and older adults;3)Exploring the role of TB and PB in the impact of loneliness on suicidal ideation.Methods:A total of 582 college students from Zhejiang University and 386 older adults from Shangcheng District and Xihu District in Hangzhou were randomly selected to conduct a questionnaire survey.College students finished the survey by themselves,and older adults finished the survey through one-to-one structured interviews.The questionnaire included Interpersonal Needs Questionnaire,Beck's Suicidal Ideation Scale,Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale,UCLA Loneliness Scale and 6-item Lite,Basic Psychological Needs Scale.Pearson correlation,Cronbach's a coefficient,Factor Analysis,Structural Equation Model were used to test the reliability and validity of the scale,and Path Analysis was used to construct the mediating model and moderating model.Results:The reliability and validity of INQ was good(Cronbach's a coefficient:college students:0.88,older adults:0.86;EFA supported two-factor model,CFA fit index:college students:CFI=0.92,TLI=0.89,SRMR=0.07,RMSEA=0.06,older adults people:CFI=0.91,TLI=0.87,SRMR=0.06,RMSEA=0.08).The scale showed cross-group stability(multi-group CFA:CFI=0.89,TLI=0.85,SRMR=0.06,RMSEA=0.07).The moderating effect of PB in the effect of TB on suicidal ideation was significant(college students:r=0.02,p<.05,older adults:r=0.28,p<.05).The scores of older adults and college students on PB were not significantly different(B=0.47,t(857)=1.82,p>.05),and scores were significantly different on TB(B=-3.98,t(857)=5.60,p<.001)_The levels of suicidal ideation in older adults was significantly lower than that of college students(B=-0.35,t(857)=2.15,p<.05).Mediating effect of TB on suicidal ideation in different groups were significant(r=0.04,p<.001),and mediating effects of PB were not significant(r=0.03,p>.05),indicating differences in suicidal ideation between older adults and college students was partly due to the difference in TB.Among college students and older adults,the partial mediating effect of loneliness-TB-suicide ideation was significant(college students:r=0.10:,p<.05;older adults:r=0.28,p<.05).The mediation model with moderating effect of loneliness,TB,PB,and suicide ideation have a modest degree of fit(college students:CFI=0.86,TLI=0.89,SRMR=0.11,RMSEA=0.10;older adults:CFI=0.84,TLI = 0.82,SRMR = 0.07,RMSEA?0.71).Conclusions:The Interpersonal Theory of Suicide showed acceptable applicability among two high-risk group of suicide——college students and older adults.INQ has good applicability in older adults and college students,and it has cross-group stability.The effect of TB on suicidal ideation is moderated by PB,There are differences in TB between college students and older adults,and they are in the same direction as the differences in suicidal ideation.There is no significant difference in PB,and the difference in suicide ideation between two groups is mainly from TB.There is a partial mediating effect of TB on the effect of loneliness on suicide,and PB has a moderating effect on this mediating effect.