Interpersonal Reactions to Suicide Attempt: the Role of Respondent Causal Attributions

Interpersonal responses to a depressed person with or without a suicide attempt were examined. It was hypothesized that the depressed person who attempted suicide would receive higher negative attributions & interpersonal rejection, & that attributions would mediate the relationship between exposure to a depressed person & rejection. Contrary to the hypotheses, respondents were more willing to interact with, held higher esteem for, & endorsed lower negative attributions for the depressed person who attempted suicide. Mediation hypotheses were supported. (26 refs.)