Do Feelings of Defeat and Entrapment Change over Time? An Investigation of the Integrated Motivational-Volitional Model of Suicidal Behaviour Using Ecological Momentary Assessments.

Jana-Sophie Stenzel,Inken Höller,Thomas Forkmann,Heide Glaesmer,Lena Spangenberg,Dajana Rath,Nina Hallensleben

doi:10.3390/ijerph17134685

Abstract

(1) Background. Defeat and entrapment have been highlighted as major risk factors of suicidal ideation and behavior. Nevertheless, little is known about their short-term variability and their longitudinal association in real-time. Therefore, this study aims to investigate whether defeat and entrapment change over time and whether defeat predicts entrapment as stated by the integrated motivational–volitional model of suicidal behavior. (2) Methods. Healthy participants (n = 61) underwent a 7-day smartphone-based ecological momentary assessment (EMA) on suicidal ideation/behavior and relevant risk factors, including defeat and entrapment and a comprehensive baseline (T0) and post (T2) assessment. (3) Results. Mean squared successive differences (MSSD) and intraclass correlations (ICC) support the temporal instability as well as within-person variability of defeat and entrapment. Multilevel analyses revealed that during EMA, defeat was positively associated with entrapment at the same measurement. However, defeat could not predict entrapment to the next measurement (approximately two hours later). (4) Conclusion. This study provides evidence on the short-term variability of defeat and entrapment highlighting that repeated measurement of defeat and entrapment—preferably in real time—is necessary in order to adequately capture the actual empirical relations of these variables and not to overlook significant within-person variability. Further research—especially within clinical samples—seems warranted.

Highlights

According to the WHO [1], approximately 800,000 people worldwide die by suicide each year; the number of nonfatal attempts is estimated to potentially be 20 times higher
T-tests for dependent samples and effect sizes d [58] including 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated to test whether feelings of defeat and entrapment differed between baseline (T0) and post (T2) assessment (Hypothesis 1a)
Regarding the question of whether feelings of defeat and entrapment differed between baseline (T0) and post (T2) assessment (Hypothesis 1a), results of t-tests for dependent samples and effect sizes d [55]—including 95% confidence intervals (CI)—are reported

Summary

Introduction

According to the WHO [1], approximately 800,000 people worldwide die by suicide each year; the number of nonfatal attempts is estimated to potentially be 20 times higher. While people of all age groups die by suicide, it is the second leading cause of death among 15–29-year-olds. In order to improve prevention of fatal as well as nonfatal suicide attempts, it is important to research risk factors such as suicidal ideation. Studies suggest that possibly 1/3 of people could face suicidal ideation in the course of their lifetime [2]. In a representative sample of the German general population, 8% of the participants. Res. Public Health 2020, 17, 4685; doi:10.3390/ijerph17134685 www.mdpi.com/journal/ijerph

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