Abstract
Background
Leading theoretical explanations for suicide state that for suicide death to occur, a person must have sufficient capability to enact an attempt. Exposure to painful and provocative events is hypothesized to play an important role in acquiring the capability for suicide over a lifetime. Unfortunately, assessment tools for painful and provocative events have focused solely on the frequency of events, neglecting the potential contributions of perceived impact. Further, past measurements have used predetermined items for painful and provocative events thereby neglecting other relevant events. The current study uses visual analog scales (VAS) to assess both the frequency and impact of painful and provocative events and how these contribute to the capability for suicide.
Method
Data were collected from 787 adults via Amazon’s online platform.
Results
Findings indicated that the frequency VAS and impact VAS both had a moderate correlation with the original Painful and Provocative Events Scale. Greater scores on the frequency VAS were associated with increased capability, whereas lower scores on the subjective impact VAS were associated with increased capability scores. Both VAS independently predicted capability above and beyond the PPES.
Limitations
Temporal or causal associations are unable to be drawn due to cross-sectional data. In addition, the sample was largely homogenous (White = 72%, female = 63.5%), limiting generalizability.
Conclusions
These initial findings demonstrate individuals who perceive painful and provocative events as being less impactful may have increased capability, and that VAS may be appropriate to approximate the impact and frequency of painful and provocative events.
Additional information
Notes on contributors
Brian W. Bauer
Brian W. Bauer (M.S.) Department of Psychology, University of Southern Mississippi, Hattiesburg, Mississippi, USA.
Anna R. Gai
Anna R. Gai (M.S.) Department of Psychology, Florida State University, Tallahassee, Florida, USA.
Thomas E. Joiner
Thomas E. Joiner (Ph.D.), Department of Psychology, Florida State University, Tallahassee, Florida, USA.
Daniel W. Capron
Daniel W. Capron (Ph.D.), Department of Psychology, University of Southern Mississippi, Hattiesburg, Mississippi, USA.