Suicidal behaviors and interpersonal theory of suicide constructs among adolescent girls and emerging adult women with eating disorders: the moderating role of age

BackgroundIndividuals with Eating Disorders (EDs) are at an elevated risk for suicidal behaviors (SB). The aim of this study was to explore the relationship between constructs of the Interpersonal Theory of Suicide (IPTS), SB and age among individuals with EDs.MethodsThe study included 140 participa...

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Main Authors: Amit Goldstein, Iris Shachar-Lavie, Orit Krispin, Roni Rom, Eitan Gur, Netta Horesh-Reinman, Yari Gvion
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-05-01
Series:Frontiers in Psychiatry
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Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2025.1564384/full
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author Amit Goldstein
Amit Goldstein
Iris Shachar-Lavie
Orit Krispin
Roni Rom
Eitan Gur
Netta Horesh-Reinman
Yari Gvion
author_facet Amit Goldstein
Amit Goldstein
Iris Shachar-Lavie
Orit Krispin
Roni Rom
Eitan Gur
Netta Horesh-Reinman
Yari Gvion
author_sort Amit Goldstein
collection DOAJ
description BackgroundIndividuals with Eating Disorders (EDs) are at an elevated risk for suicidal behaviors (SB). The aim of this study was to explore the relationship between constructs of the Interpersonal Theory of Suicide (IPTS), SB and age among individuals with EDs.MethodsThe study included 140 participants: 77 adolescent girls (ages 12-17) and 63 emerging adult women (ages 18-29). Participants completed a battery of psychological instruments assessing SB, ED symptom severity, non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI), perceived burdensomeness (PB), and thwarted belongingness (TB).ResultsPB levels were higher among emerging adults compared to adolescents while TB levels were similar across groups. PB was significantly associated with SB among adolescents, but not among emerging adults. In contrast, TB was significantly associated with SB among emerging adults, but not among adolescents. No moderating effect of age was found in the relationship between NSSI and SB.ConclusionThese findings support the contribution of IPTS constructs (TB, PB) to SB among females with ED. Moreover, the identification of age-specific mechanisms by which IPTS constructs operate provides novel insight with potential clinical implications. Interventions for adolescents with EDs and SB may benefit from caregiver-focused strategies that reduce adolescents’ sense of burdensomeness, whereas interventions for emerging adults with EDs and SB may be improved by enhancing social integration and strengthening their sense of belongingness.
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spelling doaj-art-90fe466c10e34262b9ef879e874efbf92025-08-20T03:05:34ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Psychiatry1664-06402025-05-011610.3389/fpsyt.2025.15643841564384Suicidal behaviors and interpersonal theory of suicide constructs among adolescent girls and emerging adult women with eating disorders: the moderating role of ageAmit Goldstein0Amit Goldstein1Iris Shachar-Lavie2Orit Krispin3Roni Rom4Eitan Gur5Netta Horesh-Reinman6Yari Gvion7Department of Psychology, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat Gan, IsraelEating Disorders Department, Schneider Children’s Medical Center, Petach Tikva, IsraelEating Disorders Department, Schneider Children’s Medical Center, Petach Tikva, IsraelEating Disorders Department, Schneider Children’s Medical Center, Petach Tikva, IsraelBaruch Ivcher School of Psychology, Reichman University, Herzliya, IsraelEating Disorders Department, Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer, IsraelDepartment of Psychology, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat Gan, IsraelDepartment of Psychology, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat Gan, IsraelBackgroundIndividuals with Eating Disorders (EDs) are at an elevated risk for suicidal behaviors (SB). The aim of this study was to explore the relationship between constructs of the Interpersonal Theory of Suicide (IPTS), SB and age among individuals with EDs.MethodsThe study included 140 participants: 77 adolescent girls (ages 12-17) and 63 emerging adult women (ages 18-29). Participants completed a battery of psychological instruments assessing SB, ED symptom severity, non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI), perceived burdensomeness (PB), and thwarted belongingness (TB).ResultsPB levels were higher among emerging adults compared to adolescents while TB levels were similar across groups. PB was significantly associated with SB among adolescents, but not among emerging adults. In contrast, TB was significantly associated with SB among emerging adults, but not among adolescents. No moderating effect of age was found in the relationship between NSSI and SB.ConclusionThese findings support the contribution of IPTS constructs (TB, PB) to SB among females with ED. Moreover, the identification of age-specific mechanisms by which IPTS constructs operate provides novel insight with potential clinical implications. Interventions for adolescents with EDs and SB may benefit from caregiver-focused strategies that reduce adolescents’ sense of burdensomeness, whereas interventions for emerging adults with EDs and SB may be improved by enhancing social integration and strengthening their sense of belongingness.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2025.1564384/fullsuicideadolescentseating disordersanorexiabulimiasuicidal behavior (SB)
spellingShingle Amit Goldstein
Amit Goldstein
Iris Shachar-Lavie
Orit Krispin
Roni Rom
Eitan Gur
Netta Horesh-Reinman
Yari Gvion
Suicidal behaviors and interpersonal theory of suicide constructs among adolescent girls and emerging adult women with eating disorders: the moderating role of age
Frontiers in Psychiatry
suicide
adolescents
eating disorders
anorexia
bulimia
suicidal behavior (SB)
title Suicidal behaviors and interpersonal theory of suicide constructs among adolescent girls and emerging adult women with eating disorders: the moderating role of age
title_full Suicidal behaviors and interpersonal theory of suicide constructs among adolescent girls and emerging adult women with eating disorders: the moderating role of age
title_fullStr Suicidal behaviors and interpersonal theory of suicide constructs among adolescent girls and emerging adult women with eating disorders: the moderating role of age
title_full_unstemmed Suicidal behaviors and interpersonal theory of suicide constructs among adolescent girls and emerging adult women with eating disorders: the moderating role of age
title_short Suicidal behaviors and interpersonal theory of suicide constructs among adolescent girls and emerging adult women with eating disorders: the moderating role of age
title_sort suicidal behaviors and interpersonal theory of suicide constructs among adolescent girls and emerging adult women with eating disorders the moderating role of age
topic suicide
adolescents
eating disorders
anorexia
bulimia
suicidal behavior (SB)
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2025.1564384/full
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