Perceived Burdensomeness, Thwarted Belongingness, and Suicide Risk: The Role of Online Social Comparison to Suicide-Related Content

Suicide is a growing public health concern. One context that may impact suicide risk is online environments, where individuals may disclose their suicidal thoughts and behaviors. Not much research investigates how viewing suicide-related content makes people feel through social comparison. This study examined whether social comparison to more distressed others or healthier others mediates the relationship between the Interpersonal-Psychological Theory of Suicide constructs and suicidal ideation severity among adults engaging with suicide-related content. N=263 adults were recruited from pro-suicide communities and Prolific. Online surveys assessed IPTS constructs, social comparison, and suicide ideation severity. Findings include comparison to more distressed others mediated the relationship in thwarted belongingness and perceived burdensomeness, and suicidal ideation severity. Additionally, social comparison to healthier others was not a significant mediator for both interpersonal constructs and suicidal ideation severity. Downward comparison to suicidal content may be a meaningful pathway through which interpersonal risk factors increase suicidal risk.

Level thesis:degree_level

Master’s Degree

Year dc:date.issued

2026

Author dc:creator

• Paredes Rivera, Alexandra

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Ehrenreich, Samuel E

Committee members dc:contributor.committeemember

• McClendon, Jennifer
• Lancaster, Cynthia

• Interpersonal theory of suicide
• Mediation
• Online social comparison
• Perceived burdensomeness
• Suicidal ideation
• Thwarted belongingness

Language dc:language.iso

en_US, English

Repository record dc:identifier.uri

https://scholarwolf.unr.edu/handle/11714/11824

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:scholarwolf.unr.edu:11714/11824