Suicide Risk and Restricted Emotions in Women: The Diverging Effects of Masculine Gender Norms and Suicide Capability

Abstract

This study investigated whether gender moderated the association between masculine socialization pressures of restrictive emotionality and suicide risk through suicide capability (i.e., fearlessness about death). A sample of inpatients admitted for recent suicidality (n = 194) completed validated measures of restrictive emotionality, fearlessness about death, and current suicide risk. A moderated mediation effect was found opposite the hypothesized direction: fearlessness about death mediated the relationship between endorsement of the masculine gender norm of restrictive emotionality and suicide risk in women, but not men. Gender did not moderate the association between restrictive emotionality and fearlessness about death. The diverging gender effects suggest that the masculine gender norm of restrictive emotionality is associated with suicide capability in men and women, while acquired fearlessness about death is more informative of risk for suicide in women than men.

Keywords:

• acquired capability for suicide
• fearlessness about death
• interpersonal theory of suicide
• gender paradox
• male suicide

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Nicholas A. Fadoir

Nicholas A. Fadoir, MA, Psychology Department, University of South Alabama, Mobile, Alabama, USA.

Shane T. W. Kuhlman

Shane T. W. Kuhlman, MS, Psychology Department, University of South Alabama, Mobile, Alabama, USA.

Phillip N. Smith

Phillip N. Smith, PhD, Psychology Department, University of South Alabama, Mobile, Alabama, USA.