Self-representation of suicidal adolescents.

Abstract

This study focused on the self-representations of suicidal adolescent. Twenty-six Israeli suicidal inpatients, 24 nonsuicidal inpatients, and 24 control participants completed scales on suicidal tendencies, the hedonic value of self-representations, the complexity (differentiation, integration) of these self-representations, and the discrepancies among self domains (actual, ideal, ought). Suicidal adolescents showed more negative self-representations, a less differentiated and less integrated organization of self-attributes, and more discrepancies between the 3 assessed domains of the self than did control participants. In addition, compared with psychiatric nonsuicidal participants, suicidal adolescents showed a less complex organization of self-attributes and a higher discrepancy between ideal self and ought self. Results were discussed in terms of the vulnerable self of suicidal adolescents, characterized by uneven processing of positive and negative information, confusion, and simplicity.

When “who we are” and “who I desire to be” appear disconnected: Introducing collective/personal self‐discrepancies and investigating their relations with minority students' psychological health

“…In line with these results, large actual/ideal self‐discrepancies have been linked with dejection‐related emotions (Higgins, Shah, & Friedman, ), depression symptoms (Higgins, Klein, & Strauman, ), loss of sexual interest or pleasure (Tangney, Niedenthal, Covert, & Barlow, ), and even levels of hopelessness and suicidal ideations (Cornette, Strauman, Abramson, & Busch, ; Orbach, Mikulincer, Stein, & Cohen, ), whereas large actual/ought self‐discrepancies have been associated with more agitation‐related emotions (Higgins, Bond, Klein, & Strauman, ), higher anxiety (Scott & O'Hara, ; Strauman, ), and higher social phobia (Weilage & Hope, ). Although some studies examining the distinct predictive value of actual/ideal and actual/ought self‐discrepancies have yielded less straightforward results (Boldero & Francis, ; McDaniel & Grice, ; Phillips & Silvia, ; Tangney et al, ), there is no debate about the fact that perceiving large self‐discrepancies is associated with poor psychological health and more negative emotional consequences overall.…”

Self-Objectification, Risk Taking, and Self-Harm in College Women

“…Orbach, Lotem‐Peleg, and Kedem (1995) assessed body perceptions and attitudes among suicidal, depressed, and normal male and female adolescents. Regardless of gender, adolescents who had attempted suicide reported significantly more negative body regard as well as greater amounts of body dissociation, which was predictive of suicidal behavior (see also Orbach, Mikulincer, Stein, & Cohen, 1998; Orbach, Stein, & Mirit‐Har, 2001). Although their participants were adolescents, the results do indicate that negative body regard and body detachment are risk factors for suicidal behavior and, by association, self‐harm.…”

A model program for youth suicide prevention

“…The concept of the self provides a socialcognitive conceptual framework that can explain a wide array of processes and behaviors in a comprehensive way and can be applied to understanding intrapsychic processes of suicidal behavior (1,2). One of the important challenges is trying to understand better about the inner world of the suicidal adolescents.…”

“…For many years there has been an interest in the self-representations of suicidal adolescents (2,8,9). Many researchers have pointed out the negativeness of the suicidal self (2,8).…”

“…Many researchers have pointed out the negativeness of the suicidal self (2,8). Orbach et al (2) found that suicidal adolescents exhibited a low degree of self-differentiation and a low degree of self-integration. The current research represents another effort to examine the self-complexity of suicidal adolescents by taking into consideration the positive and negative aspects.…”