Testing the interpersonal psychological theory of suicide in Turkish chronic pain patients: exploring the potential moderating role of self-construal

This study aims to test the Interpersonal Psychological Theory of Suicide (IPTS) in Turkish chronic pain patients and examine the moderating role of interpersonal self-construal in the relationship between IPTS constructs and suicidal ideation severity. We used hierarchical regression analysis in a cross-sectional study involving 223 individuals with chronic pain conditions (195 females, 28 males; mean age = 40.08 years). Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale (C-SSRS) served as the criterion variable, with both general and pain-specific predictors as independent variables. After adjusting for other risk factors, perceived burdensomeness (PB) emerged as a significant predictor of suicidal ideation severity, while thwarted belongingness (TB) did not demonstrate similar predictive power. Contrary to the theory's assumption, the interaction between PB and TB did not uniquely contribute to the severity of suicidal ideation. Furthermore, while a positive association was observed between pain threshold and acquired capability for suicide, this association did not hold for pain intensity and acquired capability. Additionally, interdependent self-construal did not moderate the relationship between IPTS constructs and suicidal ideation severity. Despite cultural variations, IPTS mechanisms operate similarly among Turkish chronic pain patients, underscoring its potential in understanding suicidality within this group. Ongoing research is needed to explore the interaction between cultural, psychological, and social factors influencing suicidal behavior among individuals with chronic pain.