Characteristics of Suicide Typologies: Personal and Social Determinants of Suicidal Behaviors

Suicide is a major cause of death, yet it is one of the public health concerns that is preventable. Interpersonal psychological theory of suicide explicates that perceived burdensomeness and thwarted belongingness are key determinants for suicidal desire and ideation. To extend the line of suicide research, the present study takes the exploratory approach to investigate personal and social factors associated with suicide. Based on cross sectional survey data (N = 1,797), personal factors (e.g., life satisfaction, happiness, psychological distress, suicide-related perception, and attitude) and social factors (i.e., frequent exposure to suicide messages via traditional and social media, interpersonal communication with family, friends, and health care professionals, the quality and quantity of social support) are examined to identify multifaceted characteristics of suicide typologies. As a result of a series of latent profile analyses, an eight-latent profile model is determined. It is also found that suicidal behaviors (i.e., intention and attempt) significantly differ depending on suicide typologies.