Interactive effects of emotional reactivity, trauma exposure, and suicide attempts on fearlessness about death
Date
2024
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Publisher
University of Delaware
Abstract
As suicide remains a global public health concern, recent work has aimed to characterize mechanisms underlying the transition from suicidal ideation to action. Acquired capability for suicide, or fearlessness about death, has been identified as one key factor underlying this transition; however, the mechanistic understanding for how this capability emerges remains limited. This study sought to extend previous work on individual correlates of fearlessness about death by examining their interactive effects. We tested the extent to which trait emotional reactivity and past suicide attempts moderated the relationship between assaultive trauma exposure and fearlessness about death in a diverse sample of 273 community adults (aged 18-55, M/SD = 32.77/10.78) with elevated trauma exposure. There was a significant three-way interaction, such that among individuals with heightened emotional reactivity and a past suicide attempt, assaultive trauma was associated with increased fearlessness about death, whereas among those with low emotional reactivity and a past suicide attempt, assaultive trauma was associated with reduced fearlessness about death. Results suggest that emotional reactivity may be a key factor influencing the impact of trauma exposure and suicide attempts on fearlessness about death and highlights the potential utility of targeting emotional reactivity for suicide prevention.
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Keywords
Fearlessness, Emotional reactivity, Trauma exposure, Interactive effects