The primary aims of this study were to examine constructs of the Interpersonal-Psychological Theory of Suicide (IPTS) in an understudied population. Differences in levels of IPTS variables and suicidal ideation between university students with and without physical disabilities were examined. Participants were 184 students from two Southern universities who provided answers to online-based self-report questionnaires. It was hypothesized that students with physical disabilities would endorse higher levels of all IPTS constructs relative to students without physical disabilities. It was further hypothesized that disability status would exhibit an indirect effect on suicidal ideation through perceived burdensomeness and thwarted belongingness. Results indicated no differences in IPTS variables and suicidal desire between students with and without physical disabilities, and the tests of indirect effects were non-significant. The possibility exists that these null findings were partly due to the limitations of the study. This proposed study is preliminary and will serve to better inform future research regarding suicide and disability status.
","abstract_html":"<p>The primary aims of this study were to examine constructs of the Interpersonal-Psychological Theory of Suicide (IPTS) in an understudied population. Differences in levels of IPTS variables and suicidal ideation between university students with and without physical disabilities were examined. Participants were 184 students from two Southern universities who provided answers to online-based self-report questionnaires. It was hypothesized that students with physical disabilities would endorse higher levels of all IPTS constructs relative to students without physical disabilities. It was further hypothesized that disability status would exhibit an indirect effect on suicidal ideation through perceived burdensomeness and thwarted belongingness. Results indicated no differences in IPTS variables and suicidal desire between students with and without physical disabilities, and the tests of indirect effects were non-significant. The possibility exists that these null findings were partly due to the limitations of the study. This proposed study is preliminary and will serve to better inform future research regarding suicide and disability status.</p>","abstract_has_math":false,"creators":["Khazem, Lauren Rachel"],"institution":null,"degree_name":"Master of Arts (MA)","degree_level":"Masters Thesis","degree_discipline":"Psychology","degree_department":null,"school":null,"contributors":["Michael D. Anestis","Bradley A. Green","Jon T. Mandracchia"],"advisors":[],"committee_chairs":[],"committee_members":[],"year":2015,"date_issued":"2015-05-01T07:00:00Z","date_published":"2015-05-01T07:00:00Z","updated_at":"2026-07-24T05:44:27Z","subjects":["suicide","disability","perceived burdensomeness","thwarted belongingness","acquired capability for suicide","Clinical Psychology"],"languages":[],"rights":[],"rights_urls":[],"identifier_entries":[]},"links":{"outbound_url":"https://aquila.usm.edu/masters_theses/83","outbound_label":"Repository record","outbound_source":"dc:identifier"},"metadata_groups":[{"id":"people","label":"People","entries":[{"key":"dc:contributor","label":"Contributor","values":["Michael D. Anestis","Bradley A. Green","Jon T. Mandracchia"]},{"key":"dc:creator","label":"Author","values":["Khazem, Lauren Rachel"]}]},{"id":"academic_context","label":"Academic Context","entries":[{"key":"dc:date.available","label":"Dc Date Available","values":["2015-01-28T08:00:00Z"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_discipline","label":"Discipline","values":["Psychology"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_level","label":"Degree Level","values":["Masters Thesis"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_name","label":"Degree Name","values":["Master of Arts (MA)"]}]},{"id":"subjects_keywords","label":"Subjects and Keywords","entries":[{"key":"dc:subject","label":"Dc Subject","values":["suicide","disability","perceived burdensomeness","thwarted belongingness","acquired capability for suicide","Clinical Psychology"]}]},{"id":"identifiers","label":"Identifiers","entries":[{"key":"dc:identifier","label":"Identifier","values":["https://aquila.usm.edu/masters_theses/83"]}]},{"id":"additional","label":"Additional Metadata","entries":[{"key":"dc:description.abstract","label":"Abstract","values":["The primary aims of this study were to examine constructs of the Interpersonal-Psychological Theory of Suicide (IPTS) in an understudied population. Differences in levels of IPTS variables and suicidal ideation between university students with and without physical disabilities were examined. Participants were 184 students from two Southern universities who provided answers to online-based self-report questionnaires. It was hypothesized that students with physical disabilities would endorse higher levels of all IPTS constructs relative to students without physical disabilities. It was further hypothesized that disability status would exhibit an indirect effect on suicidal ideation through perceived burdensomeness and thwarted belongingness. Results indicated no differences in IPTS variables and suicidal desire between students with and without physical disabilities, and the tests of indirect effects were non-significant. The possibility exists that these null findings were partly due to the limitations of the study. This proposed study is preliminary and will serve to better inform future research regarding suicide and disability status.
"]},{"key":"dc:title","label":"Title","values":["Physical Disability and Suicidal Desire: An Examination of the Constructs of the Interpersonal-Psychological Theory of Suicide"]}]}],"canonical_facts":{"dc:contributor":["Michael D. Anestis","Bradley A. Green","Jon T. Mandracchia"],"dc:creator":["Khazem, Lauren Rachel"],"dc:date.available":["2015-01-28T08:00:00Z"],"dc:description.abstract":["The primary aims of this study were to examine constructs of the Interpersonal-Psychological Theory of Suicide (IPTS) in an understudied population. Differences in levels of IPTS variables and suicidal ideation between university students with and without physical disabilities were examined. Participants were 184 students from two Southern universities who provided answers to online-based self-report questionnaires. It was hypothesized that students with physical disabilities would endorse higher levels of all IPTS constructs relative to students without physical disabilities. It was further hypothesized that disability status would exhibit an indirect effect on suicidal ideation through perceived burdensomeness and thwarted belongingness. Results indicated no differences in IPTS variables and suicidal desire between students with and without physical disabilities, and the tests of indirect effects were non-significant. The possibility exists that these null findings were partly due to the limitations of the study. This proposed study is preliminary and will serve to better inform future research regarding suicide and disability status.
"],"dc:identifier":["https://aquila.usm.edu/masters_theses/83"],"dc:subject":["suicide","disability","perceived burdensomeness","thwarted belongingness","acquired capability for suicide","Clinical Psychology"],"dc:title":["Physical Disability and Suicidal Desire: An Examination of the Constructs of the Interpersonal-Psychological Theory of Suicide"],"thesis:degree_discipline":["Psychology"],"thesis:degree_level":["Masters Thesis"],"thesis:degree_name":["Master of Arts (MA)"]},"updated_at":"2026-07-24T05:44:27Z"}