Future orientation, depression, suicidality, and interpersonal needs in primary care outpatients

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Clinical Psychology
• Primary Care Medicine

Background:

• Past research suggests future orientation may protect against suicide risk.
• Perceived burdensomeness and thwarted belongingness are theorized to increase suicide risk.
• Understanding mediators is crucial for developing targeted interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate if perceived burdensomeness and thwarted belongingness mediate the link between future orientation and suicide risk in primary care.
• To examine these mediators in a primary care patient population.
• To clarify the psychological mechanisms underlying the future orientation-suicide risk relationship.

Main Methods:

• A sample of 97 primary care patients was assessed.
• A multiple mediator test was employed.
• Statistical analyses examined the mediating roles of perceived burdensomeness and thwarted belongingness.

Main Results:

• Perceived burdensomeness and thwarted belongingness significantly accounted for the negative association between future orientation and suicide risk.
• These mediators explained how future orientation impacts depression and suicidality.
• The findings support the proposed mediating pathways.

Conclusions:

• Perceived burdensomeness and thwarted belongingness are important mechanisms linking future orientation to suicide risk in primary care.
• Interventions aimed at reducing these burdens may enhance the protective effects of future orientation.
• These findings have implications for suicide prevention strategies in primary care settings.