Exposure to suicidal behaviors: A common suicide risk factor or a personal negative life event?

Harris, Keith M.; Bettiol, SS

doi:10.1177/0020764016682361

Cited by 5 publications

(9 citation statements)

References 39 publications

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“…Although convergent validity was supported, the relation between suicidal exposure and suicidal behavior remains equivocal in the literature. Our findings were consistent with past work showing positive associations of suicidal exposure with suicidal behavior (e.g., Kimbrel et al, 2016;Stanley et al, 2015;Ventrice et al, 2010) but inconsistent with past work showing null or negative associations of exposure with suicidal behavior (Burke et al, 2010;Harris & Bettiol, 2017;Mercy et al, 2001). The limited number of suicide attempts in the present sample precluded examination of differential associations between the exposure types and SI and attempts.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 66%

“…For example, hearing about a single instance of suicide likely has very different implications on one's suicide risk compared with multiple instances of witnessing suicide deaths. Prior studies also used a mix of quantitative and qualitative measures of exposure, none of which were validated (Burke et al., 2010; Harris & Bettiol, 2017; Kimbrel et al., 2016; Mercy et al., 2001; Stanley et al., 2015; Ventrice et al., 2010). Additionally, measures that distinguish exposure types were rare, with only three known studies examining multiple exposure types (e.g., direct exposure vs. indirect exposure; Burke et al., 2010; Ventrice et al., 2010; Wolford-Clevenger et al., 2018).…”

Section: Purpose and Hypothesesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…However, a qualitative study revealed that direct exposure to suicide (e.g., witnessing an attempt), but not indirect exposure (e.g., hearing about an attempt), was associated with greater risk for a suicide attempt (Ventrice, Valach, Reisch, & Michel, 2010). Despite these findings demonstrating positive correlations, other studies reported no relation between exposure to suicide attempts/deaths and one's personal SI and SB (Burke et al, 2010;Harris & Bettiol, 2017), with at least one study suggesting a protective effect among adolescents (Mercy et al, 2001).…”

mentioning

confidence: 96%

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Validation of the Suicidal Behavior Exposure Scale in First Responders

Wolford‐Clevenger

Smith

Kuhlman

et al. 2020

Crisis

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Abstract. Background: First responders (e.g., emergency medical technicians, firefighters) may be at higher suicide risk than the general population due to frequent exposure to suicidal behaviors of others. Aims: We aimed to confirm the factor structure, scale reliability, and convergent validity of a new measure of suicidal exposure, the Suicidal Behaviors Exposure Scale, in first responders. Method: Using a cross-sectional web-based survey, we recruited 862 participants (81.3% male, mean age = 40.23, SD = 11.88) from a national database and southeastern state-based organization of first responders. Results: Confirmatory factor analysis resulted in a generally poor fit for the three-factor structure (exposure to suicidal communication, indirect exposure to suicide attempts/deaths, direct exposure to suicide attempts/deaths). However, good scale reliability and convergent validity were demonstrated. Limitations: The cross-sectional design, a convenience sample, and the low percentage of women comprise the limitations of this study. Conclusion: The Suicidal Behavior Exposure Scale requires additional development and validation before use in a first-responder sample. Future work should also examine other aspects of reliability and validity, namely, measurement invariance across groups and time.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 66%

Section: Purpose and Hypothesesmentioning

confidence: 99%

mentioning

confidence: 96%

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Validation of the Suicidal Behavior Exposure Scale in First Responders

Wolford‐Clevenger

Smith

Kuhlman

et al. 2020

Crisis

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“…Still, some researchers have measured suicidal exposure by administering multiple item measures. For example, Harris and Bettiol (2017) asked participants if they knew a family member or friend who died by or attempted suicide. Pirelli and Jeglic (2009) developed a measure that assesses the frequency of exposure to death of various causes, including suicide, and relationship to the deceased.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…A case–control study demonstrated that exposure to suicide attempts and deaths was lower among individuals who made a near lethal attempt as compared with controls (Mercy et al, 2001). Additionally, exposure to suicide attempts and deaths of friends or family was not associated with a combined measure of suicide ideation and attempts (Harris & Bettiol, 2017). Finally, exposure to suicide threats was not associated with suicide attempt history (Burke et al, 2010).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

A preliminary validation of the Suicidal Behavior Exposure Scale.

Wolford‐Clevenger¹,

Kuhlman²,

Elledge³

et al. 2019

Psychology of Violence

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Objective: Research on suicide contagion has suggested that exposure to suicide-related thoughts and behaviors of others promotes one's personal risk for suicide. However, our understanding of the role suicidal exposure plays in the development of suicide risk is underdeveloped. This limited understanding may be due, in part, to the lack of a validated measure of exposure to suicidal behavior. The present study aimed to develop and validate a comprehensive self-report instrument of exposure to suicidal behaviors. Method: Using two independent convenience samples of undergraduate students, exploratory structural equation modeling was performed on a newly developed measure of suicidal exposure. Results: Data supported a three-factor model of suicidal exposure, where Factor 1 is exposure to suicidal communication, Factor 2 is direct exposure to suicide deaths and attempts, and Factor 3 is indirect exposure to suicide deaths and attempts. Each factor demonstrated positive bivariate associations with depressive symptoms, posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms, suicide ideation, and suicide attempt history, suggesting convergent validity. Analyses demonstrated generally acceptable internal consistency. Conclusion: This instrument will facilitate the study of suicidal exposure. Further validation of this scale, with attention to its reliability and invariance across gender and other demographic variables in clinically relevant samples, will be important for advancing the assessment of suicidal exposure and understanding its relation to suicide risk.

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Suicidal behaviour in the social environment: Does exposure moderate the relationship between an individual's own suicidal ideation and behaviour?

Roland

Höller

Forkmann

et al. 2022

Clin Psychology and Psychoth

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Introduction Suicidal behaviour still cannot be sufficiently predicted. Exposure to suicidal behaviour in the personal social environment is assumed to moderate the individual's transition from suicidal ideation to suicidal behaviour within the integrated motivational–volitional model of suicidal behaviour (IMV model). This study aimed to investigate this moderating effect in a German high‐risk sample. Methods We interviewed 308 psychiatric inpatients (53% female) aged 18 to 81 years (M = 36.9, SD = 14.30) admitted after attempted suicide (53%) or due to an acute suicidal crisis (47%) regarding exposure events in their social environment. Four types of exposure events were analysed using moderation analyses: familial suicides/suicide attempts and non‐familial suicides/suicide attempts. Additionally, the numbers of reported exposure events were compared between patients with and without a recent suicide attempt as well as between patients with lifetime suicide attempts and lifetime suicidal ideation. Results Neither moderating effects of exposure events on the relationship between lifetime suicidal ideation and recent suicidal behaviour nor group differences between suicidal ideators and suicide attempters regarding the exposure events were found. Conclusions Exposure events might have differential and possibly protective effects on suicidal behaviour—depending on type and quality (intensity, personal relevance and recency) of event—and on the outcome (suicide vs. suicide attempt).

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Exposure to suicidal behaviors: A common suicide risk factor or a personal negative life event?

Abstract: Results showed no validity for ESB as a common risk factor for suicidality or other psychopathology, or as a latent trait. ESB showed evidence as a personal negative life event with individual effects and interpretations.

Cited by 5 publications

References 39 publications

Validation of the Suicidal Behavior Exposure Scale in First Responders

Validation of the Suicidal Behavior Exposure Scale in First Responders

A preliminary validation of the Suicidal Behavior Exposure Scale.

Suicidal behaviour in the social environment: Does exposure moderate the relationship between an individual's own suicidal ideation and behaviour?

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