Skip to main content
Search
Search
    Quick Search anywhere
    Quick search in Citations
Advanced Search
Skip main navigationClose Drawer MenuOpen Drawer Menu
Previous article
Next article
Research Trends

Self-Disgust and Its Relationship With Lifetime Suicidal Ideation and Behavior

Results From a Cross-Sectional, Internet-Based Survey

Published Online:January 10, 2020https://doi.org/10.1027/0227-5910/a000645

Abstract

Abstract.Background: The emotion disgust is typically directed toward stimuli in the external environment, but sometimes people develop self-directed disgust responses. Aims: The current questionnaire study focused on the role of self-disgust in lifetime suicidal ideation and behavior. Method: A total of 1,167 individuals participated in an Internet-based survey containing self-report measures of self-disgust, externally directed disgust proneness, coping styles, diagnoses of mental disorders, and suicide risk. Hierarchical regression analyses as well as mediation analyses were computed. Results: Self-disgust was the most relevant predictor of suicide risk among the assessed variables. Self-disgust was negatively associated with the use of support by others, and positively associated with evasive coping (self-blame, venting, denial), which in turn was positively associated with suicidality. Limitations: This cross-sectional study provided information on the relationship between self-disgust and suicidality in a self-selected sample. Longitudinal studies are warranted. Conclusion: Future studies are required to replicate these findings. Additionally, stronger research designs are needed in order to investigate whether self-disgust should be targeted in suicide prevention programs and interventions.

References

  • Abdul-Hamid, S., Denman, C., & Dudas, R. B. (2014). Self-relevant disgust and self-harm urges in patients with borderline personality disorder and depression: A pilot study with a newly designed psychological challenge. PLoS ONE, 9(6), e99696. 10.1371/journal.pone.0099696 First citation in articleCrossref Medline, Google Scholar

  • Batterham, P. J., Ftanou, M., Pirkis, J., Brewer, J. L., Mackinnon, A. J., Beautrais, A., … Christensen, H. (2015). A systematic review and evaluation of measures for suicide ideation and behaviors in population-based research. Psychological Assessment, 27, 501–512. 10.1037/pas0000053 First citation in articleCrossref Medline, Google Scholar

  • Brake, C. A., Rojas, S. M., Badour, C. L., Dutton, C. E., & Feldner, M. T. (2017). Self-disgust as a potential mechanism underlying the association between PTSD and suicide risk. Journal of Anxiety Disorders, 47, 1–9. 10.1016/j.janxdis.2017.01.003 First citation in articleCrossref Medline, Google Scholar

  • Chu, C., Buchman-Schmitt, J., Michaels, M. S., Ribeiro, J. D., & Joiner, T. (2013). Discussing disgust: The role of disgust with life in suicide. International Journal of Cognitive Therapy, 6, 235–247. 10.1521/ijct.2013.6.3.235 First citation in articleCrossref, Google Scholar

  • Chou, W., Ko, C., Hsiao, R.C., Cheng, C., & Yen, F. (2017). Association of stress coping strategies with suicidality in young adults: The mediation effects of depression, anxiety and hostility research. Neuropsychiatry, 7(6), 974–982. 10.4172/Neuropsychiatry First citation in articleCrossref, Google Scholar

  • Curtis, V., De Barra, M., & Aunger, R. (2011). Disgust as an adaptive system for disease avoidance behaviour. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, 366(1563), 389–401. 10.1098/rstb.2010.0117 First citation in articleCrossref Medline, Google Scholar

  • Edwards, M. J., & Holden, R. R. (2001). Coping, meaning in life, and suicidal manifestations: Examining gender differences. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 57(12), 1517–1534. 10.1002/jclp.10206 First citation in articleCrossref Medline, Google Scholar

  • Glaesmer, H., Kapusta, N. D., Teismann, T., Wagner, B., Hallensleben, N., Spangenberg, L., & Forkmann, T. (2018). Psychometrische Eigenschaften der deutschen Version des Suicide Behaviors Questionnaire Revised (SBQ-R) [Psychometric characteristics of the German version of the Suicide Behaviors Questionnaire Revised (SBQ-R)]. PPmP-Psychotherapie – Psychosomatik – Medizinische Psychologie, 68(8), 346–352. 10.1055/s-0043-118335 First citation in articleCrossref Medline, Google Scholar

  • Hayes, A. F. (2013). Introduction to mediation, moderation, and conditional process analysis: A regression-based approach. New York, NY: Guilford Press. First citation in articleGoogle Scholar

  • Horwitz, A. G., Hill, R. M., & King, C. A. (2011). Specific Coping Behaviors in Relation to Adolescent Depression and Suicidal Ideation. Journal of Adolescence, 34(5), 1077–1085. 10.1016/j.adolescence.2010.10.004 First citation in articleCrossref Medline, Google Scholar

  • Huff, C. O. (1999). Source, recency, and degree of stress in adolescence and suicide ideation. Adolescence, 34(133), 81–89. First citation in articleMedline, Google Scholar

  • Ille, R., Schöggl, H., Kapfhammer, H. P., Arendasy, M., Sommer, M., & Schienle, A. (2014). Self-disgust in mental disorders – symptom-related or disorder-specific? Comprehensive Psychiatry, 55(4), 938–943. 10.1016/j.comppsych.2013.12.020 First citation in articleCrossref Medline, Google Scholar

  • Kleiman, E. M., & Liu, R. T. (2013). Social support as a protective factor in suicide: Findings from two nationally representative samples. Journal of Affective Disorders, 150(2), 540–545. 10.1016/j.jad.2013.01.033 First citation in articleCrossref Medline, Google Scholar

  • Klonsky, E. D., & Muehlenkamp, J. J. (2007). Self-injury: A research review for the practitioner. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 63, 1045–1056. 10.1002/jclp.20412 First citation in articleCrossref Medline, Google Scholar

  • Knoll, N., Rieckmann, N., & Schwarzer, R. (2005). Coping as a mediator between personality and stress outcomes: A longitudinal study with cataract surgery patients. European Journal of Personality, 19(3), 229–247. 10.1002/per.546 First citation in articleCrossref, Google Scholar

  • Marusic, A., & Goodwin, R. D. (2006). Suicidal and deliberate self-harm ideation among patients with physical illness: The role of coping styles. Suicide and Life-Threatening Behavior, 36(3), 323–328. 10.1521/suli.2006.36.3.323 First citation in articleCrossref Medline, Google Scholar

  • Meadows, L. A., Kaslow, N. J., Thompson, M. P., & Jurkovic, G. J. (2005). Protective factors against suicide attempt risk among African American women experiencing intimate partner violence. American Journal of Community Psychology, 36(1), 109–121. 10.1007/s10464-005-6236-3 First citation in articleCrossref Medline, Google Scholar

  • Moll, J., de Oliveira-Souza, R., Moll, F. T., Ignacio, F. A., Bramati, I. E., Caparelli-Daquer, E. M., & Eslinger, P. J. (2005). The moral affiliations of disgust: A functional MRI study. Cognitive and Behavioral Neurology, 18, 68–78. 10.1097/01.wnn.0000152236.46475.a7 First citation in articleCrossref Medline, Google Scholar

  • Muehlenkamp, J. J., Swanson, J. D., & Brausch, A. M. (2005). Self-objectification, risk taking, and self-harm in college women. Psychology of Women Quarterly, 29(1), 24–32. 10.1111/j.1471-6402.2005.00164.x First citation in articleCrossref, Google Scholar

  • Nelson, A., & Muehlenkamp, J. J. (2012). Body attitudes and objectification in nonsuicidal self-injury: comparing males and females. Archives of Suicide Research, 16, 1–12. 10.1080/13811118.2012.640578 First citation in articleCrossref Medline, Google Scholar

  • Overton, P. G., Markland, F. E., Taggart, H. S., Bagshaw, G. L., & Simpson, J. (2008). Self-disgust mediates the relationship between dysfunctional cognitions and depressive symptomatology. Emotion, 8(3), 379–385. 10.1037/1528-3542.8.3.379 First citation in articleCrossref Medline, Google Scholar

  • Pienaar, J., Rothmann, S., & Van De Vijver, F. J. R. (2007). Occupational stress, personality traits, coping strategies, and suicide ideation in the South African Police Service. Criminal Justice and Behavior, 34(2), 246–258. 10.1177/0093854806288708 First citation in articleCrossref, Google Scholar

  • Powell, P. A., Overton, P. G., & Simpson, J. (2013). The revolting self: An interpretative phenomenological analysis of the experience of self-disgust in females with depressive symptoms. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 70, 562–578. 10.1002/jclp.22049 First citation in articleCrossref Medline, Google Scholar

  • Powell, P. A., Overton, P. G., & Simpson, J. (2015). The revolting self: Perspectives on the psychological, social, and clinical implications of self-directed disgust. London, UK: Karnak Books. First citation in articleGoogle Scholar

  • Power, M., & Dalgleish, T. (2008). Cognition and emotion: From order to disorder (2nd ed.). Hove, UK: Psychology Press. First citation in articleGoogle Scholar

  • Schaller, M., & Duncan, L. A. (2007). The behavioral immune system: Its evolution and social psychological implications. In J. P. ForgasM. G. HaseltonW. von HippelEds., Evolution and the social mind: Evolutionary psychology and social cognition. New York, NY: Psychology Press. 10.4324/9780203837788 First citation in articleCrossref, Google Scholar

  • Schienle, A., Walter, B., Stark, R., & Vaitl, D. (2002). Ein Fragebogen zur Erfassung der Ekelempfindlichkeit [A Questionnaire for the Assessment of Disgust Proneness]. Zeitschrift für Klinische Psychologie und Psychotherapie, 31(2), 110–120. 10.1026/0084-5345.31.2.110 First citation in articleLink, Google Scholar

  • Schienle, A., Ille, R., & Arendasy, M. (2014). Diagnostik von Selbstekel im Rahmen der Depression [Diagnostics of self-disgust in the context of depression]. Verhaltenstherapie, 24(1), 15–20. 10.1159/000360189 First citation in articleCrossref, Google Scholar

  • Schienle, A., Wabnegger, A., Schöngassner, F., & Leutgeb, V. (2015). Effects of personal space intrusion in affective contexts: An fMRI investigation with women suffering from borderline personality disorder. Social Cognitive Affective Neuroscience, 10(10), 1424–1428. 10.1093/scan/nsv034 First citation in articleCrossref Medline, Google Scholar

  • Schienle, A., Übel, S., & Wabnegger, A. (2018). Visual symptom provocation in skin picking disorder: An fMRI study. Brain Imaging and Behavior, 12(5), 1504–1512. 10.1007/s11682-017-9792-x First citation in articleCrossref Medline, Google Scholar

  • Seiffge-Krenke, I. (2004). Adaptive and maladaptive coping styles: Does intervention change anything? European Journal of Developmental Psychology, 1(4), 367–382. 10.1080/17405629.2004.11453396 First citation in articleCrossref, Google Scholar

  • Smith, N. B., Steele, A. M., Weitzman, M. L., Trueba, A. F., & Meuret, A. E. (2015). Investigating the role of self-disgust in nonsuicidal self-injury. Archives of Suicide Research, 19(1), 60–74. 10.1080/13811118.2013.850135 First citation in articleCrossref Medline, Google Scholar

  • Stanley, I. H., Rufino, K. A., Rogers, M. L., Ellis, T. E., & Joiner, T. E. (2016). Acute Suicidal Affective Disturbance (ASAD): A confirmatory factor analysis with 1442 psychiatric inpatients. Journal of Psychiatric Research, 80, 97–104. 10.1016/j.jpsychires.2016.06.0120022-3956 First citation in articleCrossref Medline, Google Scholar