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Empirical Support for an Evolutionary Model of Self‐Destructive Motivation
Author(s) -
Brown R. Michael,
Brown Stephanie L.,
Johnson Aron,
Olsen Berit,
Melver Kristen,
Sullivan Mark
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
suicide and life‐threatening behavior
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.544
H-Index - 90
eISSN - 1943-278X
pISSN - 0363-0234
DOI - 10.1521/suli.2009.39.1.1
Subject(s) - psychology , logistic regression , suicidal ideation , romance , depression (economics) , clinical psychology , multilevel model , suicide attempt , ideation , developmental psychology , suicide prevention , social psychology , poison control , medicine , medical emergency , machine learning , computer science , economics , macroeconomics , cognitive science , psychoanalysis
We tested predictions generated from an evolutionary account of self‐destructive motivation in two survey studies of 18–24‐year‐old university students. As hypothesized, hierarchical regressions showed that the positive relationship between perceived burden to family and suicide ideation was amplified for participants with low measured health and romantic relationship satisfaction, and for participants with relatively young mothers. The moderating effect of maternal age was also observed in logistic regressions of suicide attempts. These effects occurred independently of depression, hopelessness, and other relevant extraneous variables. Results have implications for understanding self‐destructive motivation, assessing suicide risk, and preventing suicidal thinking and behavior.