Pluralism and incommensurability in suicide research

Newtonian science, complexity science and suicide-critically analysing the philosophical basis for suicide research: A discussion paper

AIM

A critical discussion comparing Newtonian science and complexity science as the philosophical basis for suicide research and its impact on suicide knowledge development and clinical practice.

DESIGN

Discussion paper.

DATA SOURCES

A review of literature on suicide research and complexity science ranging from 2000 to 2022.

IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING

Suicide research based on a Newtonian worldview can have negative consequences for suicide knowledge development and can permeate nursing practice in ways that take away from addressing the complex needs of patients, their families and healthcare teams.

CONCLUSION

A Newtonian worldview as a philosophical basis for research is insufficient for the study of a phenomenon as complex as suicide. A complexity science approach is better suited to the study of suicide given the multiple, interrelated, emerging factors that can contribute to a person's decision to end their own life.

IMPACT

Suggestions are provided as to how a complexity science approach to the research of suicide can inform useful knowledge development that better meets the needs of individuals facing suicidality and their families. Researchers, healthcare administrators and nurses providing care to those struggling with suicidality can benefit from adopting a complexity science worldview in addressing this multifaceted phenomenon.

Thwarted belongingness, perceived burdensomeness, and acquired capability for suicide among university students of Bangladesh: Scales validation and status assessment

BACKGROUND

Identification of prior mental events of suicide attempts has immense importance in suicide prevention. However, it has not been studied in Bangladesh as there was no available psychometrically valid instrument measuring it.

OBJECTIVES

We aimed to test the psychometric properties of the interpersonal needs questionnaire (INQ-15) and acquired capability for suicide scale-fearlessness about death (ACSS-FAD) in Bangla along with the determination of the level of thwarted belongingness, perceived burdensomeness, and acquired capability for suicide.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We collected data between 29 March and 14 April 2022 from 1,207 students of medical colleges and universities in Bangladesh by Google form. We assessed the psychometric properties of Bangla INQ and ACSS-FAD scales and examined factors associated with thwarted belongingness, perceived burdensomeness, and acquired capability for suicide.

RESULTS

The mean age of the participants was 22.82 ± 1.68 (range 18-29) years, 51% were females, 84% were graduate students, and 92% were unmarried. Both of the scales revealed acceptable levels of reliability. Confirmatory factor analysis revealed a two-factor structure of Bangla INQ after dropping three items from thwarted belongingness domain (item 9, 11, and 12) and a single factor structure for Bangla ACSS-FAD after dropping three items (item 1, 4, and 6). Perceived burdensomeness was significantly higher in females, students with a history of mental illness, family history of suicide, and the history of suicidal attempts. Fearlessness about death was significantly higher among females, non-Muslim participants, and history of suicidal attempts.

CONCLUSION

The current study revealed psychometric properties of two suicide scales (INQ and ACSS-FAD) in Bangla that can be used in subsequent studies. Prevention strategies targeting to females, persons with psychiatric disorder, history of previous attempt(s) should be prioritized specially among the young age group.

Psychometric properties of the Italian version of the Interpersonal Needs Questionnaire-15 (INQ-15-I)

OBJECTIVE

The Interpersonal Needs Questionnaire (INQ-15) is a self-report measure of thwarted belongingness and perceived burdensomeness, two constructs associated with suicidal ideation. The objective of the current study was to translate the INQ-15 from English to Italian (INQ-15-I) and to test its factor structure, reliability, and validity in Italian samples.

METHOD

We examined (a) whether the components of the hypothesized two-factor measurement model are invariant across a community sample (N = 510) and a clinical sample (N = 259); (b) the relations between the INQ-15-I factors and measures of depression (Beck Depression Inventory-II), hopelessness (Beck Hopelessness Scale), and suicidal ideation (Beck Scale for Suicide Ideation); (c) the reliability and psychometric properties of the INQ-15-I.

RESULTS

Results from multigroup confirmatory factor analyses supported the adequacy of the two-factor model to represent thwarted belongingness and perceived burdensomeness. The model is invariant across community and clinical groups, showing excellent fit. The two INQ-15-I scales measure highly intercorrelated constructs. Both significantly correlate with depression, hopelessness, and suicidal ideation, and correlations are high in the clinical sample.

CONCLUSION

The INQ-15-I is a valid and reliable measure of thwarted belongingness and perceived burdensomeness. Implications for research, assessment, and intervention in suicidal ideation are discussed.