Enhancing attributional style as a protective factor in suicide

Abstract

We applied Needles and Abramson (1990) recovery model of cognitive vulnerability to the suicide. Previous research has found that individuals who make global and stable attributions to positive events (an enhancing attributional style) are more resilient to depression and recover faster if they do become depressed. Building upon past research, we hypothesized that an enhancing attributional style would buffer the relationship between depressive symptoms and suicidal ideation. We also explored possible mediators of this effect. Specifically, we hypothesized that the reduction in suicidal ideation may be due to changes in depressive symptoms. Two hundred and nine diverse undergraduates participated in a four-week prospective study. Results of a moderated Poisson regression analysis demonstrate that enhancing attributional style buffers the relationship between baseline depressive symptoms and followup suicidal ideation, controlling for baseline depressive symptoms. A mediated moderation analysis using structural equation modeling did not support the hypothesis that the reduction in suicidal ideation was due to a reduction in depressive symptoms. Limitations include an unselected college sample with a low base rate of suicidal ideation, the use of self-report measures, and assessing only suicidal ideation not behaviors. Results suggest that enhancing attributional style is a viable protective factor in suicide. Moreover, the buffering effect is due to direct reduction in suicidal ideation, rather than simply a reduction in depressive symptoms. Since attributional styles are modifiable, findings suggest that modifying negative attributional styles can be useful to prevent suicide in a clinical setting.