Emotion Differentiation and Dynamics Predicting Suicide Outcomes in High-Risk Adults

Negative emotions have been well studied in relation to suicidal thoughts and behaviors (STBs); however, little research in these areas have been informed by affective science frameworks that consider the complex and time varying nature of STBs. Emotion differentiation is well-validated as one such core construct in affective science. The present study is the first to examine negative emotion differentiation in relation to STBs and in a sample at heightened risk for suicide. In addition, to investigate how emotion differentiation relates to real time measures of emotion regulation, we examined the relationship between negative emotion differentiation and facets of affective dynamics (i.e., affective inertia, intensity, and variability).

Adults leaving psychiatric inpatient care (n = 68) with recent STBs completed semi-structured interviews, self-report measures, and a 4-week ecological momentary assessment (EMA) protocol in the period from 2021 to 2023.

Results indicated no significant relationship between negative emotion differentiation and STBs (suicidal ideation duration, frequency, controllability, severity, nor suicide attempt history) when measured retrospectively or concurrently. However, negative emotion differentiation was significantly related to only some negative affective dynamics (i.e., inertia and variability).

These findings have important clinical implications regarding type and timing of treatment for STBs.