Psychological Interpersonal Needs and Suicidal Ideation among College Students:The Moderating Role of Social Support

Abstract

Suicideis a growing cause of deaths and is considered a widespread problem throughout the country. There are a number of cases where in students not scoring expected or perceived competitive marks in exams are taking course to suicide. A number of studies worldwide have brought out that it is not only restricted to geographical boundaries but it is arising global problem. However in India it is one of the major cause of deaths and the number of suicide cases per year is increasing at an alarming rate. More than one lakh lives are lost every year due to suicides in our country. In the last two decades the suicidal rate has increased from 7.9 to 10.3 per 10000. According to National Crime Records Bureau, India (2015), the southern states of Kerala; Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu have a suicide rate of 3%. As per Wilcox et al. (2010) the transition of youth in to adulthood makes them more vulnerable to an increased risk of suicide, as they experience new stressful events such as leaving home, being away from family, pressures of going to college and adjusting with unfamiliar situations of varied complexity. In addition, they are exposed to other risk factors for suicide (e.g., alcohol, drug use, risky behaviors) and are in the age range where psychological disorders begin to develop (Wilcox et al., 2010). The continuous changes in social factors and exposure to the dynamic factors of peer pressure, personal achievements and competition may emerge as an important factor for suicide ideation amongst college students. Thus it makes this study of impact of social support, thwarted belongingness and perceived burdensomeness even more important.Social supportEmotional support on family and friends plays a vital role especially in the transitional period of a young person to adulthood. Social support can be defined as a interpersonal process in which one person emotionally comforts another, helps to discuss problems, gives advice, provides material goods and services and makes other feel part of social network (Cohen & Wills, 1985). It is considered major psychosocial protective factor that reduces individual vulnerability to the deleterious effect of stress on health (Cassel, 1976). Social support works as buffering model or moderate the effect of stress on mental and physical health, social support helps a person to remain healthy in adverse circumstances. Lack of social support has been related to suicidal behavior (Thompson, Mazza, Herting, Rendell, & Eggert, 2005). Durkheim's (1857) Concept of Egotistic Suicide is particularly relevant to this study. Durkheim stresses that suicide is associated with the integration of social groups that an individual is a member of. When the individual's society is strongly integrated it can serve as buffer of suicide. Belonging to a group, creates a bond between individuals that unite and attaches them and prevents negative feelings from occurring. This bond creates a consistent distribution of ideas and feelings that are mutually shared between individuals of the group.The interpersonal-psychological theory of suicidal behavior (Joiner, 2005) states that anindividual will not die by suicide unless s/he has both the desire to die by suicide as well as the ability to do so. The theory asserts that when people hold two specific psychological states in their minds simultaneously, and when they do so for long enough, they develop the desire fordeath. The two psychological states are perceived burdensomeness and a sense of low belongingness or social alienationPerceived burdensomenessPerceived burdensomeness can be defined as the cognition that an individual is a burden to others, including family and friends (Joiner, 2005). Joiner emphasizes the term perceived, in that people who are suicidal perceive they are a burden, even if that perception is false. Perceived burdensomeness includes feelings of worthlessness and thoughts that often people will benefit from one's death. …