Suicidal thinking and perfectionism: The role of goal adjustment and behavioral inhibition/activation systems (BIS/BAS)

Citation

O'Connor R & Forgan G (2007) Suicidal thinking and perfectionism: The role of goal adjustment and behavioral inhibition/activation systems (BIS/BAS). Journal of Rational-Emotive and Cognitive Behavior Therapy, 25 (4), pp. 321-341. http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=psyh&AN=2007-18332-005&site=ehost-live;ro2@stir.ac.uk; https://doi.org/10.1007/s10942-007-0057-2

Abstract
The current study investigated the associations among perfectionism, goal adjustment, behavioral activation sensitivity (BAS), behavioral inhibition sensitivity (BIS), and suicidal thinking. Participants (n = 255) completed the Multidimensional Perfectionism Scale, the BIS/BAS scale, the Goal Adjustment scale, and a measure of suicidal thinking. The findings showed that socially prescribed perfectionism was the only perfectionism dimension associated with suicidal thinking. Goal reengagement (but not goal disengagement) is an important construct in the suicidal process. A series of hierarchical regression analyses showed that goal reengagement moderates and mediates the effect of socially prescribed perfectionism on suicidal thinking. BIS was also associated with suicidal behavior but its effect was mediated via socially prescribed perfectionism. The theoretical and treatment implications of the relationships between socially prescribed perfectionism, goal reengagement, and suicidal thinking and between BIS, socially prescribed perfectionism, and suicidal thinking are discussed. Future research is required to determine whether these relationships are predictive of suicidal thinking and behavior over time.

Keywords
10; 200; 30; 300; 320; 340; 360; 40; activation; Adjustment; Adolescence; ADULTHOOD; AFFILIATION; age; Antisocial Behavior; association; ASSOCIATIONS; BEHAVIOR; BEHAVIOR therapy; behavioral activation sensitivity; behavioral inhibition sensitivity; Behaviour; C; Classification; Cognitive Behavior Therapy; CONSTRUCT; DATABASE; DATE; disengagement; Disorders; empirical; Female; Future; General Health Questionnaire; goal adjustment; Goal Orientation; Health; IDEATION; implications; INHIBITION; language; location; Male; media; Methodology; MIDDLE; Middle Age; NUMBER; Orientation; other; PARTICIPANTS; Peer Reviewed; Peer-Reviewed; Perfectionism; Population; PSYCHOLOGY; Psycinfo; Quantitative Studies; quantitative study; QUESTIONNAIRE; RECORD; Regression; relationship; relationships; RELEASE; Research; rights; Role; SCALE; Scotland; Sensitivity; SERIES; Stirling; SUICIDAL behavior; suicidal behaviour; Suicidal ideation; suicidal thinking; Suicide; SYSTEM; Systems; TESTS; THERAPIES; THERAPY; Thinking; time; treatment; universities

Journal
Journal of Rational-Emotive and Cognitive Behavior Therapy: Volume 25, Issue 4