Problem orientation as a moderator of the relation between discrimination and passive suicidal ideation

Abstract

Background: Passive suicidal ideation (i.e., the desire to be dead) may be an important, yet understudied, risk factor for suicidal behavior. Experiences of discrimination have been linked to greater severity of suicidal ideation though less work has examined factors that influence this relation. Though not explicitly tested, prior work suggests that problem orientation, defined as an individual's general beliefs about problems in daily life, may be an important moderator of this relation. In the present study, positive and negative problem orientation were hypothesized to moderate the relation between everyday discrimination and past month frequency of passive suicidal ideation. Method: The study consisted of a diverse (62.4 % non-White; 21.4 % Latino/a/x; 27 % sexual minority) adult sample (N = 392; Mage = 20.24, SD = 2.49, 67.3 % female) recruited from a U.S. Mid-Atlantic college campus. Discrimination, problem orientation, past-month depressive symptoms, and past-month frequency of passive suicidal ideation were assessed using self-report measures. A single path model with Bayesian estimation was used to evaluate concurrent relations among study variables. Results: After controlling for depressive symptoms, sex, sexual identity, and age, positive problem orientation buffered the impact of lifetime discrimination on past month passive suicidal ideation (b = -0.01, 95 % credibility interval [CI]: [-0.008, -0.001]). Negative problem orientation did not moderate this relation (b = 0.00, 95 % CI: [-0.002, 0.003]). Limitations: Study design was cross-sectional in nature. Conclusions: Results suggest that bolstering positive problem orientation in treatment with young adults who have experienced discrimination may help reduce suicide risk.

Keywords

• Adults
• Problem orientation
• Suicidal ideation
• Discrimination