IntroductionThe Interpersonal Needs Questionnaire-15 (INQ-15) assesses interpersonal needs comprising suicidal desire based on the Interpersonal Theory of Suicide (IPTS): Thwarted belongingness (TB) and perceived burdensomeness (PB). The IPTS is applied to many psychological-affective states and disorders, collectively showing state-specific pathways to suicidal features. Given the prevalent application of the IPTS, determining how the constructs are comprised and operate is critical. Consistent with the network perspective of psychological constructs, we used network and algorithmic methods to evaluate thwarted interpersonal needs. MethodsA sample (N = 863) aggregated from two independent studies (Sokol & Serper, 2019; Sokol et al., 2023) was used for analysis. ResultsNetwork analysis identified three dimensions that were invariant by suicide-risk status: PB, and two dimensions from the TB items. Accounting for wording effects, one-dimensional structures presented in 9 %–23 % of replicates. The loadings comparison test algorithm suggested that the constructs were consistent with a network composition (over latent), and centrality indices identified meaningful strong and bridge features. LimitationsThe samples were demographically homogeneous, and more diverse samples in terms of sexuality, racial/ethnic identification, culture, and socioeconomic status might yield different findings. ConclusionFindings indicate that thwarted interpersonal needs are comprised of perceived burdensomeness, loneliness, and absence of reciprocal care dimensions and that loneliness-related experiences may be mechanisms by which PB and TB-related experiences co-occur. Additionally, results showed that the INQ-15 may have previously unquantified method effects, but the overall identified dimensions are stable. These results yield a nuanced conceptualization of interpersonal needs and their function.
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