Interpersonal Theory Research Articles (Page 1)

Communicators in public safety, such as 911 telecommunicators, emergency medical dispatchers, and police and fire dispatchers, frequently deal with distressing calls, traumatic narratives, and high-stakes decisions. Despite not being physically present at crisis scenes, these experts endure psychological stress on par with first responders. This scoping review examines the prevalence and determinants of depression and suicidal ideation among public safety communicators and their co-occurrence, summarizes the occupational and personal risk factors contributing to these outcomes, and evaluates proposed mitigation strategies. The research indicates that depression is reported at elevated rates in this workforce, ranging from 8.4% to 73%, depending on the population and the sensitivity of the instrument, based on 11 quantitative studies published between 1995 and 2025. Although less studied, suicidal ideation appears to be significantly higher in this group compared to the general population. Contributing factors include indirect trauma exposure, shift work, emotional suppression, organizational neglect, and a history of trauma. The frequent co-occurrence of depression and suicidal ideation supports the Interpersonal Theory of Suicide as a relevant explanatory framework. Despite accumulating evidence, research is methodologically limited due to cross-sectional designs, inconsistent screening tools, and sample homogeneity. Existing interventions, such as peer support, debriefing, and trauma-informed training, are inconsistently applied and under-evaluated. The findings highlight a pressingneed for longitudinal research, targeted interventions, and workplace reforms that take into account the unique psychological burdens associated with communicator roles. Addressing depression and suicide risk among these professionals is critical to ensuring both workforce well-being and the continued effectiveness of public safety systems.

Validation of the French version of the Meaning of Life Questionnaire (MLQ) in patients admitted for crisis hospitalization in a psychiatric emergency service (crisis center).

How people respond when adolescents disclose their suicidal thoughts or behaviors may significantly shape their help-seeking and mental health outcomes. Drawing on the Intimacy Process Model and Interpersonal Theory of Suicide, the present study examined interpersonal needs as mediators of the relationship between adolescents' supportive and unsupportive experiences with suicide-related disclosure and future suicide ideation (SI) and attempts (SAs). Ethnoracially diverse adolescents (n = 119; 78% female), aged 12-19 years (M = 15.2, SD = 1.9), were recruited from hospitals and clinics following SI or SA and interviewed about how others responded to their disclosure of SI/SA. Interpersonal needs (perceived burdensomeness, thwarted belongingness) were measured at one-month follow-up, SI severity was measured at baseline and 3-month follow-up, and SA since baseline was assessed at 1-, 3-, and 12-month follow-up. Thirty-nine percent of adolescents (n = 47) did not disclose their SI/SA, 43% (n = 51) had a supportive disclosure experience, and 18% (n = 21) had an unsupportive disclosure experience. Perceived supportiveness vs. unsupportiveness of responses was not associated with interpersonal needs nor with SI. Only thwarted belongingness predicted SI at 3 months, adjusting for baseline SI, among adolescents who disclosed their SI or SA. However, a perceived supportive (vs. unsupportive) response to disclosure significantly predicted lower odds of making a SA by 12 months. Treatments should address thwarted belongingness to reduce SI severity among adolescents presenting for clinical care following SI or SA. Increasing supportive experiences with suicide-related disclosure may reduce adolescents' risk of SAs.

Empirical evaluation of three 21st century suicide theories: interpersonal theory of suicide, cultural model of suicide, and the integrated motivational-volitional model.

Diverting (selling/trading/giving) prescription stimulant medication is common on college campuses and increases opportunities for students without prescriptions to misuse stimulant medication. Considering the social context in which diversion occurs, this behavior is likely influenced by dominance and warmth, dispositions encompassed by Contemporary Integrative Interpersonal Theory and modeled by the interpersonal circumplex. These interpersonal traits may help differentiate who, among prescribed college students, is likely to engage in diversion. Prescribed students low in dominance may lack assertiveness skills, while prescribed students high in warmth may value helping others, both of which may lead to a higher likelihood of complying with diversion requests. Dominance and warmth dimensions, and interpersonal profiles, were examined among prescribed undergraduate students from six U.S. institutions (N = 491, Mage=19.7, 73.5% female, 71.3% white non-Hispanic, 90.2% ADHD diagnosis). Participants were grouped by history of diversion, including those who were never approached nor diverted (‘never’; n = 345), those who were approached but never diverted (‘approached-only’; n = 82), and those who engaged in diversion (‘diversion’; n = 62). Interpersonal profile analysis indicated different interpersonal styles between the never group versus both approached-only and diversion groups. Logistic regressions indicated that increased dominance was associated with a higher likelihood of being approached and diverting. More dominant prescribed students may be higher in extraversion and confidence, increasing the likelihood that others may know about their prescription and feel comfortable making a diversion request. Interpersonal trait differences in dominance may aid in early identification of prescribed students at-risk for diversion, who could benefit from interventions targeting diversion refusal methods.

James "Jim" C. Coyne was born in Chelsea, Massachusetts (October 22, 1947), and died in Oakland, California (November 10, 2024). Jim was a prolific researcher, publishing five books and over 450 articles, ranking among the 200 most influential psychologists in a 2014 publication in Archives of Scientific Psychology. His pioneering work on stress and, later, on interpersonal theories of depression were particularly innovative and impactful. He was also amazing at garnering grants, and his work was exceptionally well funded. Jim was among the fiercest psychological iconoclasts, openly challenging popular but questionable psychological claims. Jim was a potent adversary of those doing bad and harmful science, but he was also generous with those invested in doing good science. He taught graduate classes on sorely needed pragmatic topics to which students otherwise would seldom get exposed (e.g., writing submission cover letters that avoid desk rejection). He also selflessly donated pro bono work to activist groups representing those victimized by the studies he critiqued. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2025 APA, all rights reserved).

Factors Associated with the Choice of Euthanasia in End-of-life Care: An Interpersonal Theory of Suicide Perspective

Suicide is a leading cause of mortality and a recognized public health priority. In the last two decades, older adults (age 65 and older) saw the largest percentage increase in suicide rates. Despite these rising trends, geriatric suicide remains an understudied public health crisis. In this review, we summarize risk factors specific to geriatric suicide using a socioecological framework and the Interpersonal Theory of Suicide of burdensomeness and belongingness. Specifically, we categorize these risk factors into individual, interpersonal, organizational, and policy levels. For each type of risk factor, we review prevention and intervention programs that can help mitigate the risk of suicide among older adults. Some strategies we discuss include early detection, comprehensive healthcare approaches, community-based support systems, and legislative and policy solutions. The paper underscores the need for increased awareness and more targeted research to address the unique challenges faced by the aging population to provide more informed support and prevent suicide mortality.

This study investigates how social appearance anxiety (SAA) influences Life satisfaction among emerging adults by examining the mediating role of loneliness and the moderating role of communication skills. Drawing upon the Sociocultural Theory of Body Image and the Interpersonal Theory of Loneliness, we propose a moderated mediation model situated within the Turkish cultural context. A sample of 375 Turkish emerging adults (Mage = 20.97, 79.7% female) completed validated self-report measures assessing SAA, loneliness, communication skills, and life satisfaction. Results from PROCESS macro (Model 7) indicated that SAA was significantly associated with lower life satisfaction, and this relationship was partially mediated by loneliness. Importantly, communication skills moderated the indirect effect: the association between SAA and loneliness was weaker among individuals with higher communication competence. These findings suggest that the emotional toll of appearance-related anxiety may not only operate through internal mechanisms but also manifest interpersonally through perceived social disconnection-especially in collectivist settings where relational harmony is central. Communication competence appears to buffer this pathway, highlighting the importance of culturally embedded interpersonal resources in promoting psychological well-being. Taken together, the study provides insights that extend beyond the Turkish context, offering implications for understanding body image concerns and relational resilience in diverse cultural settings. The study underscores the need for interventions targeting not only body image but also social-emotional skills that foster resilience in socially evaluative contexts.

Trajectory classes of suicidal ideation and anhedonia among Chinese vocational school students: Links with childhood trauma, school bullying victimization, and emotion regulation.

Perceived burdensomeness partially mediates the longitudinal relationship between problem gambling and suicidal ideation.

The Interpersonal Theory of Suicide (ITS) identifies key dynamic factors, including thwarted belongingness, perceived burdensomeness, and interpersonal hopelessness, that may aid in assessing and preventing suicidal thoughts and behaviors. These constructs can also be understood within the framework of the Five Factor Model (FFM) of personality. This study aimed to examine the relationship between personality profiles, the severity of suicide-related histories, and ITS-related risk factors. Additionally, we sought to determine whether the relationship between ITS-related risk factors and the severity of suicide-related histories was moderated by personality profiles. A nationwide sample of 1367 adults, collected via CloudResearch, completed an online survey. Six distinct personality profiles were identified via latent profile analysis. Elevated levels of neuroticism and low levels of conscientiousness corresponded to the highest levels of suicide-related histories. Lower levels of neuroticism coupled with higher levels of extraversion and conscientiousness were associated with reduced levels of suicide-related histories and ITS-related risk factors. However, personality profiles did not moderate the relationship between ITS-related risk factors and the severity of suicide-related histories. Future research should investigate whether directly targeting personality domains contributes to mitigating suicide risk and alleviating thwarted belongingness, perceived burdensomeness, and interpersonal hopelessness.

Strong working alliance is a critical part of rehabilitation counseling, yet few studies have explored client predictors of alliance. Based on interpersonal theory, this study investigated the relationship between client interpersonal problems and working alliance during vocational rehabilitation. A sample of 325 individuals with disabilities from two state vocational rehabilitation agencies participated in the study. Bivariate analyses showed that greater interpersonal problems were associated with weaker working alliance. In a hierarchical regression analysis, submissive/hostile interpersonal problems significantly predicted lower working alliance scores. These findings suggest that interpersonal problems, such as social withdrawal and emotional disengagement, impede the development of working alliance. The results support the integration of interpersonal assessments and alliance-focused strategies into rehabilitation counseling to enhance engagement and improve client outcomes.

This study examines Suicidal Ideation in individuals living with chronic pain, focusing on the contribution of variables from the Interpersonal Theory of Suicide and the potential mediating role of Meaning in Life. The sample consisted of 251 adults residing in Spain who completed the Purpose in Life Test, the Interpersonal Needs Questionnaire, and the Suicidal Ideation Scale. The results revealed a significant positive association between Perceived Burdensomeness and Suicidal Ideation, as well as a significant negative association between Perceived Burdensomeness and Meaning in Life. Thwarted Belongingness showed no significant relationship with either Suicidal Ideation or Meaning in Life. Mediation analyses indicated that Meaning in Life partially mediated the relationship between Perceived Burdensomeness and Suicidal Ideation, but not between Thwarted Belongingness and Suicidal Ideation. These findings highlight the relevance of Perceived Burdensomeness as a risk factor and suggest the protective value of Meaning in Life in individuals with chronic pain.

3,4-methelenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) can be effective in treating posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in controlled trials, potentially secondary to MDMA’s effects on neural circuits implicated in fear and reward. Although anxiety, stress, and fear-based disorders involve maladaptation of the neural circuits processing fear, threat, and reward, no studies have tested MDMA’s therapeutic efficacy on specific phobias. This article proposes a naturalistic biopsychosocial model of MDMA assisted therapy (MDMA-AT) informed by the neurobiological mechanisms of MDMA and the theoretical models of Emotional Processing Theory (EPT), inhibitory learning, and cognitive behavioral interpersonal theory (CBIT) to inform transdiagnostic treatments for anxiety, stress, and fear-based disorders. As a fear-based disorder with a circumscribed focus, we apply the biopsychosocial model to propose a novel MDMA-assisted Dyadic One Session Treatment (DOST) model for spider phobia, one of the most common animal phobias. Specific phobias such as spider phobia offer a straightforward naturalistic model to test the effects of MDMA on normalizing approach behavior, avoidance behavior, and neural circuit function. We hypothesize that the neurobiological and prosocial effects of MDMA can promote enhanced emotional processing and inhibitory learning of phobic stimuli during exposure exercises to create more adaptive associations that lead to increases in approach behavior and reductions in spider phobia symptomatology. Such a model may spur greater thought towards integration of evidence-based exposure therapies (ETs) designed to optimally capitalize upon the pharmacological effects of MDMA and other psychedelic compounds to treat fear-based mental health conditions.

The interpersonal theory of suicide posits that perceived burdensomeness (PB) and thwarted belongingness (TB) are central to suicidal ideation (SI), where either one is sufficient for passive SI but both required for active SI. This study used continuous-time modeling to examine the relationship between PB, TB, and both passive and active SI. Three independent samples (N = 141) of participants with recent suicidal thoughts and behaviors completed 3-15 surveys per day for 28-30 days; each survey assessed PB, TB, passive SI, and active SI. Continuous-time residual dynamic structural equation models estimated auto- and cross-drift effects (instantaneous rates of change) between PB, TB, and their interaction on passive and active SI. Negative drift rates indicate resistance to shifts away from equilibrium. Both passive and active SI had negative auto-drift effects. There were significant negative cross-drift effects of PB, TB, and their interaction on both active and passive SI. The effects of PB, TB, and their interaction lasted 5-5.5 and 4.5-5 hr on passive SI and active SI, respectively. Auto-drift effects were significantly larger than cross-drift effects, which did not differ from each other. Both passive and active SI reduce their own rates of change, resisting shifts away from their equilibrium. Contrary to the interpersonal theory of suicide, these findings suggest that rather than precipitating SI, PB, TB, and their interaction resist shifts away from a person's typical levels of passive and active SI. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2025 APA, all rights reserved).

Suicide has increasingly become a critical public health concern in Nigeria, reflecting a complex interplay of socio-economic, psychological, cultural, and environmental factors. Recent reports indicate a steady rise in suicide rates, yet systematic research into its determinants, consequences, and remedies remains limited. This study examines the causes of suicide, including economic hardship, unemployment, relationship challenges, academic pressures, mental health disorders, and social stigma. Using a mixed-methods approach, data were collected from 500 survey respondents across multiple Nigerian states and in-depth interviews with 50 individuals, including suicide attempt survivors and mental health professionals. Quantitative analysis revealed significant correlations between financial stress, psychological distress, and suicidal ideation, while qualitative findings highlighted cultural beliefs, religious interpretations, and inadequate mental health services as exacerbating factors. The study is grounded in Durkheim’s sociological theory of suicide and Joiner’s interpersonal theory, offering both macro-structural and individual-level perspectives. Results underscore the consequences of suicide, including family trauma, loss of productivity, and community destabilization. Recommendations emphasize holistic interventions, such as policy reforms, integration of mental health services into primary care, public awareness campaigns, community-based support networks, and collaboration with religious and traditional leaders. The study highlights the urgent need for a multi-sectoral approach to mitigate suicide risk in Nigeria. Implementing culturally sensitive, evidence-based strategies can reduce the incidence of suicide, strengthen mental health awareness, and promote resilience within communities. These findings provide actionable insights for policymakers, health practitioners, educators, and civil society organizations, contributing to a more coordinated national response to this growing crisis.

Background: The rehabilitation counseling process is dependent on strong working alliance. However, few studies have been conducted to understand factors that affect the development of working alliance in rehabilitation counseling. Objective: The purpose of this paper is to examine interpersonal theory as a way of understanding the development of working alliance in rehabilitation counseling. Methods: We provide a background for the foundations of interpersonal theory and the related mathematically based interpersonal circumplex model. We propose that interpersonal theory is a useful framework for rehabilitation counselors to better understand the development of working alliance and client outcomes. Findings: Interpersonal theory is based on the belief that people’s interactions with others determine their sense of security, sense of self, and motivations. People use interpersonal interactions to meet their personal psychological needs. Interpersonal theory provides a framework for understanding why individuals with disabilities might experience interpersonal difficulties when working with a counselor, seeking employment, or navigating different relationships. Conclusions: Through understanding interpersonal theory, rehabilitation counselors can be more aware of their clients’ interpersonal strengths or problems, allowing them to better prepare their clients to be successful in their goals.

Digital devices, initially considered simply as amazing technical tools, are assuming the role of true ‘digital companions’ that accompany the dynamics of everyday life. The present study aims to analyse how devices influence affective representations of intersubjectivity. The 22 subjects who participated in the research were asked to narratively interpret four projective cards inspired by Murray’s Thematic Apperception Test (TAT), into which representations of technological devices were introduced. Leaning on psychoanalytic and interpersonal theory, the content analysis of the 88 narratives made it possible to investigate how four foundational experiences of subjectivity are influenced by technology: Childhood, Couple, Self-image, and Traumatic event. The exploration of the dynamics related to the digital object took into account affects, the relevance given to the digital object in the narrative, and its function in relation to interpersonal life. The results show that technology is an aid insofar as good communication exists on the real interpersonal level but is in no way sufficient as a substitute for the love object. In the life of a couple, the digital object becomes a source of conflict, on which the female protagonist, in particular, develops an intrusive dependence, or it is used as ammunition to break up the relationship, generating potentially traumatic experiences. However, there is no shortage of narratives in which devices have been used to immortalise positive aspects of the self, maintaining a genuine relational openness that is not dependent on narcissistic dynamics of external recognition.

People with personality disorders (PDs) tend to experience invalidation in their daily life-others seem to disregard, reject, or punish their psychological experiences (e.g., emotions and self-concept). Our study aimed to (a) examine within-person covariation in day-to-day perceived invalidation and PD symptom severity and (b) explore minority stress as a form of invalidation-one that targets aspects of people's minoritized identities. We recruited 170 community adults and 339 undergraduate students, oversampling from sexual/gender and ethnic/racial minoritized groups, to complete daily surveys of invalidation, minority stress, and PD features over 2 weeks. We observed that daily invalidation (r = .35) and, to a smaller extent, minority stress (rs = .22-.23) had meaningful within-person correlations with same-day PD symptoms. Despite moderate between-person correlations (rrange = .28-.41) between invalidation and minority stress measures, they were more modestly associated on a within-person basis (rrange = .09-.11). In a multilevel multiple regression model, both invalidation and minority stress uniquely predicted daily PD symptoms, collectively accounting for approximately 20% of within-person outcome variation. Based on these results, we speculate that various forms of invalidation (i.e., those that target thoughts, emotions, self-concepts, and identities) interact with PD features in a vicious cycle, such that daily invalidation activates personality pathology, which evokes more invalidation, and so on. We encourage more recognition of identity-based invalidation and investigation into the ways that minority stress could advance interpersonal theories of personality pathology. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2025 APA, all rights reserved).