Alcohol-Related Problems as Specific Correlates of Interpersonal-Psychological Theory of Suicide Constructs

Abstract

The relationship between alcohol misuse and suicide ideation among undergraduate students has recently been investigated through the potential mechanisms of coping motives for drinking (Gonzalez, Bradizza, & Collins, 2009), and alcohol-related problems (Lamis & Malone, 2011). In the latter, the interpersonal constructs (i.e., perceived burdensomeness and thwarted belongingness) of the Interpersonal-Psychological Theory of Suicide (IPTS) were found to partially mediate the relationship between a uni-dimensional measure of alcohol-related problems and suicide proneness. In the current study we attempted to replicate and extend upon this previous work, by utilizing both uni and multi-dimensional measures of alcohol-related problems, including the constructs of the IPTS associated with acquired capablity for suicide, using a more precise measure of suicide ideation as our outcome variable, and controlling for the effects of coping motives for drinking and sadness. In a sample of regularly drinking college students (N=295), our results suggested that the relationships between alcohol-related problems and the IPTS constructs are not specific to the subtype of alcohol-related problems experienced, and that these relationships are better accounted for by recent experiences of sadness. Implications of these findings for the IPTS, as well as suggestions for future research on this topic are discussed.