Social Support and Positive Events as Suicide Resiliency Factors: Examination of Synergistic Buffering Effects

Abstract

This study examines the role of social support and positive events as protective factors in suicide. Participants (n = 379) were administered measures of social support, life events, depressive symptoms, and suicide ideation. Results indicated that (1) social support had a direct protective effect on suicide ideation, (2) social support and positive events acted as individual buffers in the relationship between negative events and suicide ideation, and (3) social support and positive events synergistically buffered the relationship between negative events and suicide ideation. Our results provide evidence that positive events and social support act as protective factors against suicide individually and synergistically when they co-occur.

Stability amidst turmoil: Grit buffers the effects of negative life events on suicidal ideation

“…First, by keeping long-term goals salient, grit may motivate individuals to address obstacles that impede long-term goal progress. Thus, in the wake of a negative life event, gritty individuals may be particularly motivated to seek out those things that mitigate the impact of negative life events, such as social support (Kleiman et al, 2014). In doing so, gritty individuals may avoid extended social isolation, ultimately decreasing the likelihood that they will experience suicidal ideation.…”

Loneliness, positive life events, and psychological maladjustment: When good things happen, even lonely people feel better!

“…Additionally, given the potential importance of positive life events in helping to abate or reduce maladjustment (e.g., Kleiman et al, 2014), we expected positive life events to account for a significant amount of additional variance in psychological maladjustment beyond loneliness.…”

Life adversities and suicidal behavior in young individuals: a systematic review

“…It is, therefore, important to consider, albeit briefly given our study aim, the role of protective factors. In general, there has been a study on the role of protective factors in suicidal behavior [64], but few studies have explored their role in buffering the effects of adverse life events, especially in adolescence. A recent review has pointed to the importance of a positive attributional style, higher levels of agency, and greater social support [65], but more research is needed.…”