Appraisals and Suicidality: the Mediating Role of Defeat and Entrapment

This study tested whether feelings of defeat & entrapment mediated the effects of negative appraisals upon suicide ideation & behaviour in a sample of 93 English university students who reported some degree of suicide ideation. Results supported a model whereby defeat & entrapment fully mediated the effect of appraisals of social support & problem-solving ability upon suicidality. Furthermore, controlling for hopelessness had no substantive impact upon this model. The findings support socio-cognitive models of suicidal behaviour & highlight the key role of defeat & entrapment in suicide. Clinical implications of these findings are discussed. (56 refs.) JA