Masculinity's association with the interpersonal theory of suicide among military personnel

Daruwala, Samantha E.; Houtsma, Claire; Martin, Rachel L.; Green, Bradley; Capron, Daniel W.; Anestis, Michael D.

doi:10.1111/sltb.12788

Cited by 8 publications

(15 citation statements)

References 64 publications

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“…Previous work has also suggested that men who feel more understood by others may feel more integrated in their social realm, resulting in a greater sense of social connectivity and less loneliness ( Laurenceau et al, 1998 ) which can help mitigate psychological distress ( Cacioppo et al, 2010 ); findings that have been confirmed by Cox and colleagues (2020) , as well as Keum and colleagues (2021) in independent male-only samples. The findings of the present study may also connect with those from recent reports ( Daruwala et al, 2021 ; Genuchi, 2019 ) that have examined the association between masculinity and suicidality through the lens of the interpersonal theory of suicide ( Joiner, 2005 ; Van Orden et al, 2010 ). Specifically, reduced existential isolation may help mitigate men’s sense of stoicism and self-reliance (characteristics that leave men feeling interpersonally isolated), which have been found to be associated with thwarted belongingness, a critical feature of the interpersonal theory of suicide.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 86%

Connecting and Healing: The Role of Existential Isolation in Mediating the Impact of the Therapeutic Relationship on Canadian Men’s Mental Health Outcomes

et al. 2022

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The therapeutic relationship has emerged as one of the most important components of successful treatment outcomes, regardless of the specific form of therapy. Research has now turned its attention to better understanding how the therapeutic relationship contributes to patient improvement. Extant literature contends that a strong therapeutic relationship may help reduce a patient’s sense of existential isolation (i.e., a sense of not feeling understood by others). Research indicates that existential isolation might be especially problematic for men, potentially increasing their risk for suicidality. This study investigated the association between strength of the therapeutic relationship and psychological distress and suicidality among men who received psychotherapy, and whether existential isolation mediated this association. A total of 204 Canadian men who had previously attended psychotherapy participated in a cross-sectional survey, completing measures of the quality of their most recent therapeutic relationship, existential isolation, depression and anxiety symptoms, and suicidality. Regression with mediation analysis was conducted. Two models were tested; one with depression/anxiety symptoms as the dependent variable and the other with suicidality as the dependent variable. Both mediation models emerged as significant, indicating an indirect effect for quality of the therapeutic relationship on symptoms of anxiety/depression and suicidality through existential isolation. The findings suggest that a positive therapeutic relationship can contribute to men feeling less isolated in their experiences in life (i.e., less existentially isolated), thereby helping mitigate psychological distress and suicidality.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 86%

Connecting and Healing: The Role of Existential Isolation in Mediating the Impact of the Therapeutic Relationship on Canadian Men’s Mental Health Outcomes

et al. 2022

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“…Fearlessness about death . Only four studies were identified that operationalised acquired capability as fearlessness about death and half of these studies had been published in the previous five years [ 104 , 105 ]. One study that compared suicide attempters and suicide ideators who presented to an emergency department found that fearlessness about death did not differentiate between the two groups [ 104 ].…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…One study that compared suicide attempters and suicide ideators who presented to an emergency department found that fearlessness about death did not differentiate between the two groups [ 104 ]. One relationship study found that sensation seeking was related to fearlessness about death [ 105 ] and another found that fearlessness about death only correlated with lifetime suicide attempts at high levels of fearlessness about death, but not at mean or low levels [ 106 ]. A qualitative study found that Buddhist beliefs can help overcome fearlessness about death [ 50 ], arguing that this is based on the Buddhist belief that suicide can be a noble act [ 107 ].…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Suicide capability within the ideation-to-action framework: A systematic scoping review

Bayliss

Christensen²,

Lamont‐Mills³

et al. 2022

PLoS ONE

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Suicide capability is theorised to facilitate the movement from suicidal ideation to suicide attempt. Three types of contributors are posited to comprise suicide capability: acquired, dispositional, and practical. Despite suicide capability being critical in the movement from ideation-to-attempt, there has been no systematic synthesis of empirical evidence relating to suicide capability that would enable further development and refinement of the concept. This study sought to address this synthesis gap. A scoping review was conducted on suicide capability studies published January 2005 to January 2022. Eleven electronic databases and grey literature sources were searched returning 5,212 potential studies. After exclusion criteria application, 90 studies were included for final analysis. Results synthesis followed a textual narrative approach allocating studies based on contributors of suicide capability. Most studies focused on investigating only one factor within contributors. Painful and provocative events appear to contribute to acquired capability more so than fearlessness about death. Whilst emerging evidence for dispositional and practical contributors is promising, the small number of studies prevents further conclusions from being drawn. An unexpected additional cognitive contributor was identified. The focus of a single factor from most studies and the limited number of studies on contributors other than acquired capability limits the theoretical development and practical application of suicide capability knowledge. Given that suicide is a complex and multifaceted behaviour, future research that incorporates a combination of contributors is more likely to advance our understandings of suicide capability.

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“…Finally, adherence to traditional masculine values has been found to increase suicide risk in men (Coleman, 2015; Houle et al, 2008). In particular, masculine norms of stoicism (Daruwala et al, 2021) and self-reliance have been associated with suicidal ideation in men (T. L. King et al, 2020; Pirkis et al, 2017).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Male suicide risk and recovery factors: A systematic review and qualitative metasynthesis of two decades of research.

Bennett,

Robb,

Zortea

et al. 2023

Psychological Bulletin

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Suicide is a gendered phenomenon, where male deaths outnumber those of women virtually everywhere in the world. Quantitative work has dominated suicide research producing important insights but only a limited understanding of why more men die by suicide. We conducted a qualitative metasynthesis and systematic review of 20 years of narratives both from men who are suicidal and from people who are bereaved by male suicide to identify putative risk and recovery factors. We identified 78 studies that encapsulated insights from over 1,695 people. Using Thomas and Harden's Thematic Synthesis Method, our analysis is built on 1,333 basic codes, 24 descriptive themes, and four analytical themes. We noted an association between cultural norms of masculinity and suicide risk in 96% of studies. Norms relating to male emotional suppression, failing to meet standards of male success, and the devaluing of men's interpersonal needs appeared to be associated with dysregulated psychological pain and suicide risk. Although masculinity is not pathological, we speculate that the interaction and accumulation of cultural harms to men's emotions, self, and interpersonal connections may potentially distinguish men who are suicidal from men who are not. Supporting men to understand and regulate emotions and suicidal pain, expanding possibilities for masculine identity, and building meaningful interpersonal connections were reported as helping support recovery from suicidal crises. Though our sample was predominantly White, cisgendered, and English speaking, and the underlying research designs prevent strong causal inferences, we discuss possible implications of these findings for male suicide intervention and suggestions for future research. Public Significance StatementThis systematic review synthesizes the worldwide English language qualitative research literature on suicide risk and recovery factors in men. Findings suggest a novel framework for understanding the key dynamics involved in suicide risk and recovery, based on the reciprocal relationship between masculine norms, emotions, self-concept, interpersonal connections, and psychological pain.

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Masculinity's association with the interpersonal theory of suicide among military personnel

Cited by 8 publications

References 64 publications

Connecting and Healing: The Role of Existential Isolation in Mediating the Impact of the Therapeutic Relationship on Canadian Men’s Mental Health Outcomes

Connecting and Healing: The Role of Existential Isolation in Mediating the Impact of the Therapeutic Relationship on Canadian Men’s Mental Health Outcomes

Suicide capability within the ideation-to-action framework: A systematic scoping review

Male suicide risk and recovery factors: A systematic review and qualitative metasynthesis of two decades of research.

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