A Psychometric Evaluation of the Interpersonal Hopelessness Scale Among Individuals With Elevated Suicide Risk

Abstract

The interpersonal theory of suicide hypothesizes that suicide ideation (SI) emerges specifically in the context of hopelessness about the immutability of thwarted belongingness (TB) and perceived burdensomeness (PB; i.e., interpersonal hopelessness). The psychometrics of the Interpersonal Hopelessness Scale (IHS), which could be used to test this hypothesis directly, have not been rigorously evaluated. Participants (U.S. adults reporting past-year SI) completed online self-report assessments at Waves 1 (W1; N = 595) and 2 (W2; N = 215), 1 week apart. Confirmatory factor analyses supported a two-factor structure, IHS-TB and IHS-PB. Correlations indicated strong concurrent validity. Hurdle negative binomial regressions indicated that W1 IHS-TB and IHS-PB scores were associated with SI presence and severity at both waves, but this was inconsistent when adjusting for other W1 variables. IHS-TB and IHS-PB demonstrated excellent internal consistency and moderate to good test–retest reliability. The IHS could improve theory testing and suicide risk assessment and management.

Examination of real‐time variation in interpersonal hopelessness and suicidal desire in a college student sample reporting past‐2‐week suicidal ideation

“…Additionally, the factor structure of the Interpersonal Hopelessness Scale (IHS; Tucker et al, 2018) has received further psychometric scrutiny. Recent research by Mitchell et al (2023) suggests a superior two-factor solution for the IHS compared to the original one-factor solution found in Tucker et al (2018). The two-factor solution appears to reflect that hopelessness regarding TB and PB are highly correlated yet separate constructs (Mitchell et al, 2023).…”

“…Recent research by Mitchell et al (2023) suggests a superior two-factor solution for the IHS compared to the original one-factor solution found in Tucker et al (2018). The two-factor solution appears to reflect that hopelessness regarding TB and PB are highly correlated yet separate constructs (Mitchell et al, 2023). These can be conceptualized as hopeless perceptions of burdensomeness (IH-PB) and hopeless beliefs that one lacks a sense of belonging (IH-TB).…”

“…Self-reported IH-TB and IH-PB were measured using two questions from the Interpersonal Hopelessness Scale (IHS; Tucker et al, 2018), a questionnaire designed to assess hopelessness specific to the constructs of TB and PB outlined within the ITS. The subscales of the IHS have demonstrated excellent internal consistency (Mitchell et al, 2023), and item content was derived from the Interpersonal Needs Questionnaire (INQ; i.e., an assessment of TB and PB; Van Orden et al, 2012) and the Beck Hopelessness Scale (BHS: Beck et al, 1974), both of which have been previously validated. A question from the IH-TB subscale of the IHS, "I expect that people will never care about me," was used to measure IH-TB in the current study, and a question from the IH-PB subscale of the IHS, "I believe I will always fail the people in my life," was used to measure IH-PB (Tucker et al, 2018).…”

“…We also hypothesized that IH-TB and IH-PB would better predict suicidal desire both concurrently and prospectively than general hopelessness, given the results of Tucker et al (2018) that demonstrated a stronger relationship between SI and IH compared to general hopelessness. Finally, although Mitchell et al (2023) demonstrated IH-TB and IH-PB were correlated but separate constructs, they did not test the interaction between these constructs in its ability to predict active suicidal desire as hypothesized by the ITS (Van Orden et al, 2010). Therefore, it was hypothesized that the interaction of IH-TBxIH-PB would concurrently and prospectively predict suicidal desire above and beyond the main effects and general hopelessness.…”

“…These can be conceptualized as hopeless perceptions of burdensomeness (IH-PB) and hopeless beliefs that one lacks a sense of belonging (IH-TB). Further, Mitchell et al (2023) explored the correlations of TB and PB as measured by the INQ-15 and IH-TB and IH-PB as measured by the IHS. It was found that TB and IH-TB were correlated at r = 0.54, while PB and IH-PB were correlated at r = 0.79.…”