From the outside looking in: Sense of belonging, depression, and suicide risk

Sense of belonging has demonstrated significant relationships with depression and suicidal thoughts, highlighting its potential utility in refining assessment of suicide risk. Sense of belonging is conceptualized as an individual’s experience of feeling valued, needed, and accepted by people in his or her social environment. The present study utilized the Sense of Belonging Instrument to examine sense of belonging in 116 depressed veterans recruited from a psychiatric outpatient and day treatment program at a Veterans Affairs Medical Center. Participants were assessed for the presence of a depressive disorder using a structured clinical interview. Self-report measures of depression, suicidal behaviors, hopelessness, life stress, social support, and sense of belonging were completed. Lower sense of belonging was significantly associated with greater severity of depression, hopelessness, and suicidal ideation. In addition, lower sense of belonging was significantly related to history of previous suicide attempt(s). However, sense of belonging did not relate to suicidal ideation and past suicide attempt(s) beyond the association between suicidal ideation and established risk factors. Sense of belonging displayed a significant relationship with depression and hopelessness and is likely to play a critical role in both the development and recovery from depression. Low sense of belonging provides an important target for assessment and intervention in the treatment of depression. Cognitive, behavioral, and interpersonal interventions may help to improve an individual’s sense of belonging and decrease symptoms of depression and hopelessness.

Name thesis:degree_name

Doctor of Philosophy

Level thesis:degree_level

doctoral

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Psychology

Grantor dc:publisher

Case Western Reserve University School of Graduate Studies

Year dc:date

2013

Author dc:creator

• Fisher, Lauren B.

Contributors dc:contributor

• Overholser, James

• Psychology
• belonging
• depression
• hopelessness
• suicide

Statement dc:rights

• unrestricted
• This thesis or dissertation is protected by copyright: all rights reserved. It may not be copied or redistributed beyond the terms of applicable copyright laws.

Language dc:language

English

Repository record dc:identifier

http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=case1350160014

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:etd.ohiolink.edu:case1350160014