Self-Transcendence Mediates the Relationship between Early Trauma and Fatal Methods of Suicide Attempts

Abstract

Background Early trauma is known to be a risk factor of suicide-related behavior. On the other hand, people who attempt suicide using a fatal method are reported to be more likely to complete suicide. In this study, we assumed that early trauma affects an individual's temperament and character and thereby increases the risk of a fatal method of suicide attempts. Methods We analyzed 92 people with a history of previous suicide attempts. We compared the Temperament and Character Inventory-Revised scores between the groups with and without early trauma, and between the groups with and without a history of suicide attempt using fatal methods through an analysis of covariance with age, sex, and presence of a psychiatric history as covariates. A mediation analysis was conducted of the relationship between early trauma and fatal methods of suicide attempt with self-transcendence as a mediator. Results Higher self-transcendence was reported in the fatal group (27.71 ± 13.78 vs. 20.97 ± 12.27, P = 0.010) and the early trauma group (28.05 ± 14.30 vs. 19.43 ± 10.73, P = 0.001), respectively. The mediation model showed that self-transcendence mediates the relationship between early trauma and fatal methods of suicide attempt. The 95% confidence intervals for the direct and indirect effect were (−0.559, 1.390) and (0.026, 0.947), respectively. Conclusion Self-transcendence may mediate the relationship between early trauma and fatal methods of suicide attempt. Self-transcendence may be associated with unhealthy defenses and suicidal behavior for self-punishment and may constitute a marker of higher suicide risk.

Childhood Psychological Maltreatment, Mindful Awareness, Self-Transcendence, and Mental Well-Being in Emerging Adults

“…Wu et al, 2018), particularly in terms of mindfulness. Due to its severe and long-lasting negative effects on an individual’s socioemotional development (as reported by Iwaniec et al, 2007; Shields et al, 1994), it can also result in challenges with being mindful of one’s current experiences (Arslan, 2017b) and with managing thoughts, judgments, or emotions towards oneself or others (Arslan, 2016; Yang et al, 2021). This, in turn, may lead to a decrease in mindful awareness and self-transcendence.…”

“…In addition to the aforementioned studies that support the significance of mindful awareness in fostering mental well-being, there are also studies that have underscored the positive impact of self-transcendence on mental health and well-being, especially in challenging circumstances (Coward, 1991; Wong et al, 2021; Yang et al, 2021). Self-transcendence approach highlights the potential of individuals to integrate challenging life circumstances and the importance of this integration in improving mental health and well-being in the face of such experiences.…”

“…In other words, people with higher levels of self-transcendence are less likely to experience mental health symptoms and are more likely to have greater well-being, even if they had experienced psychological maltreatment in childhood. Yang et al (2021) found that self-transcendence mediated the association between early trauma and suicide attempt. Anli and Bilgin (2022) indicated the mediating effect of self-transcendence in the relationship between fear of COVID-19 and subjective happiness among emerging adults.…”

Temperament and character in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis: the association with clinical factors and psychiatric disorders

“…This path from high self-forgetfulness to psychiatric disorders could be through inadequate selfmonitoring, and self-recognition -not related to healthy coping-and through lower reaction to disease and psychiatric symptoms. As such, a study that recruited patients who have comorbid psychiatric disorders and low SD scores suggested that selfforgetfulness may represent an unhealthy defense mechanism 31 .…”

Changes in temperament, character and intensity of empathy in adolescents treated in a day care unit – pilot study

“…Niższe natężenie poszukiwania nowości odnotowano u pacjentów z zaburzeniami lękowymi (np. OCD) w porównaniu z pacjentami z nawracającymi zaburzeniami nastroju [27] oraz u pacjentek z zaburzeniami odżywiania dokonującymi samouszkodzeń w celu innym niż samobójczym [19]. Wysokie natężenie poszukiwania nowości jest w świetle przywołanych badań istotnie związane z występowaniem zaburzeń eksternalizacyjnych.…”