Correlates of suicidality in self-injuring populations

The purpose of this study was to explore possible risk and protective correlates of suicidality amongst self-injuring individuals. Using self-reported survey responses from 323 self-injuring participants, a cross-sectional internet web-based design was employed to determine whether attachment, self-forgiveness and positive self-appraisals significantly predicted suicidality in self-injurers. Results indicated that dismissing attachment was positively associated with suicidality; emotion coping and support seeking positive self-appraisals negatively predicted suicidality, as did self-forgiveness. Findings indicate that the perceived ability to cope with emotions and gain support and the ability to self-forgive may protect against suicidality in self-injurers. Conversely the presence of dismissing attachment may increase the risk of suicidality. In the long term investigations such as this could better inform theory, assessment and treatment of suicidality in self-injurers. Replication of these results in a longitudinal design with more ethnically and age diverse samples and balance of gender is needed to strengthen the confidence in the present study’s findings and to further explore the relationship between these constructs and suicidality. In addition, studies establishing the importance of Attachment, Self-forgiveness and Positive self-appraisals constructs role in moderating the impact of risk on suicidality are needed to further delve into the relationship between these proposed constructs and suicidality in self-injurers