Interpersonal violence, alcohol use, and acquired capability for suicide

Death Stud. 2015 Jan-Jun;39(1-5):234-41. doi: 10.1080/07481187.2014.985405. Epub 2014 Dec 31.

Abstract

Acquired capability for suicide (ACS), defined as pain tolerance and fearlessness about death, is theorized as necessary to enact suicide. This study examined the associations of interpersonal violence and alcohol use with ACS in 502 college students. General fearlessness/pain tolerance was positively associated with male gender and alcohol use. Fearlessness about death was positively associated with male gender and general physical violence perpetration. However, these risk factors did not explain variance in ACS beyond male gender and history of suicide attempts/nonsuicidal self-injury. These findings add to the understanding of ACS correlates.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Alcohol Drinking / psychology
  • Attitude to Death*
  • Behavioral Research
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Fear* / physiology
  • Fear* / psychology
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Pain Threshold / psychology*
  • Risk Factors
  • Self Mutilation / physiopathology
  • Self Mutilation / psychology
  • Sex Factors
  • Suicide Prevention*
  • Suicide* / psychology
  • Suicide* / statistics & numerical data
  • Surveys and Questionnaires
  • United States
  • Violence / psychology*
  • Violence / statistics & numerical data
  • Young Adult