Allison Eades

Bio: Allison Eades is an academic researcher from University of Toronto. The author has contributed to research in topics: Personality & Suicidal ideation. The author has an hindex of 1, co-authored 1 publications receiving 12 citations.

Suicide Risk Factors Among Older Adults: Exploring Thwarted Belongingness and Perceived Burdensomeness in Relation to Personality and Self-Esteem.

Abstract: The objective of this study was to explore the role of personality and self-esteem in later life within two established risk factors for suicidal ideation (SI)—Thwarted Belongingness (TB) and Perce...

Interpersonal Risk Factors for Suicide in Cocaine Dependence: Association with Self-Esteem, Personality Traits, and Childhood Abuse.

Abstract: Objective Studies have linked cocaine dependence to suicidality. According to the Interpersonal Theory of Suicide, suicidal behavior becomes likely with the simultaneous presence of perceived burdensomeness (PB), lack of (or thwarted) belongingness (TB), and acquired fearlessness about death (FAD). Here, we examined personality and other variables, including depression, self-esteem, childhood abuse, and substance use, as predictors of these risk factors in cocaine-dependent individuals (CDs). Methods Seventy CDs and 70 healthy controls (HCs) participated. We examined group differences in a group-by-sex analysis of variance and identified predictors of PB, TB, and FAD in stepwise regressions. Results CDs exhibited elevated PB and TB but not FAD, compared to HCs. CDs also exhibited elevated harm avoidance, novelty seeking, depression, and lower self-esteem and reward dependence. Females reported elevated sexual abuse, harm avoidance, reward dependence, depression, but lower FAD, relative to males, among CDs and HCs. Among CDs, PB was predicted by lower self-esteem and greater emotional abuse; TB was predicted by lower self-esteem and reward dependence, as well as greater emotional and sexual abuse; and FAD was predicted by lower harm avoidance and greater physical abuse. Conclusions Interventions targeting suicidality in cocaine dependence should take into consideration self-esteem, personality traits, and childhood abuse.

Investigation to identify individual socioeconomic and health determinants of suicidal ideation using responses to a cross-sectional, community-based public health survey

Abstract: Objectives To address a gap in knowledge by simultaneously assessing a broad spectrum of individual socioeconomic and potential health determinants of suicidal ideation (SI) using validated measures in a large UK representative community sample. Design In this cross-sectional design, participants were recruited via random area probability sampling to participate in a comprehensive public health survey. The questionnaire examined demographic, health and socioeconomic factors. Logistic regression analysis was employed to identify predictors of SI. Setting Community setting from high (n=20) and low (n=8) deprivation neighbourhoods across the North West of England, UK. Participants 4319 people were recruited between August 2015 and January 2016. There were 809 participants from low-deprivation neighbourhoods and 3510 from high-deprivation neighbourhoods. The sample comprised 1854 (43%) men and 2465 (57%) women. Primary outcome measures SI was the dependent variable which was assessed using item 9 of the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 instrument. Results 454 (11%) participants reported having SI within the last 2 weeks. Model 1 (excluding mental health variables) identified younger age, black and minority ethnic (BME) background, lower housing quality and current smoker status as key predictors of SI. Higher self-esteem, empathy and neighbourhood belonging, alcohol abstinence and having arthritis were protective against SI. Model 2 (including mental health variables) found depression and having cancer as key health predictors for SI, while identifying as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender or queer (LGBTQ) and BME were significant demographic predictors. Alcohol abstinence, having arthritis and higher empathy levels were protective against SI. Conclusions This study suggests that it could be useful to increase community support and sense of belonging using a public health approach for vulnerable groups (e.g. those with cancer) and peer support for people who identify as LGBTQ and/or BME. Also, interventions aimed at increasing empathic functioning may prove effective for reducing SI.

Screening for suicide risk among older adults: assessing preliminary psychometric properties of the Brief Geriatric Suicide Ideation Scale (BGSIS) and the GSIS-Screen

Abstract: To initially assess psychometric properties of two abbreviated versions of the Geriatric Suicide Ideation Scale (GSIS): a 10-item Brief Geriatric Suicide Ideation Scale (BGSIS), and a 5-item Geriat...

The Cost of Being Apart: The Contribution of Perceived Burdensomeness and Thwarted Belongingness to Suicide Ideation Among Israeli Older Adults.

Abstract: Older adults have the highest suicide rates of all age groups in most industrialized countries. However, research concerning psychological risk factors for suicide among older adults is sparse. Thus, our study aimed to examine the contribution of perceived burdensomeness (PB) and thwarted belongingness (TB) to suicide ideation (SI) among older adults. Participants included 160 Israeli older adults (aged 65-91 years), who completed measures of suicide risk, PB, and TB as well as hopelessness and depression. Using hierarchical regression, we found that PB and TB accounted for 9.8% of the variance in SI and that the interaction of PB and TB had a significant unique contribution to SI among the participants, beyond the effect of hopelessness and depression. The study's findings highlight the contribution of interpersonal variables to SI among older adults and suggest that mental health professionals should be aware of PB and TB levels when assessing suicide risk among older adults.

Reciprocal/Authoritarian Filial Piety and Mental Well-Being in the Chinese LGB Population: The Roles of LGB-Specific and General Interpersonal Factors

Abstract: Although filial piety is considered as a salient value in the Chinese culture, studies on the mental well-being of Chinese lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) individuals rarely take filial piety into account or examine it in relation to other variables to clarify the mechanism between filial piety and mental well-being. A total of 1453 LGB participants from 30 provinces and regions in Mainland China completed the online survey. They provided demographic information and completed measures of filial piety, a general interpersonal factor (i.e., perceived burdensomeness and thwarted belongingness), an LGB-specific interpersonal factor (i.e., perceived parental support for sexual orientation), and mental well-being. Structural equation modelling results indicated that higher reciprocal filial piety was directly, and indirectly through lower thwarted belongingness, associated with better mental well-being. Lower authoritarian filial piety was indirectly associated with better mental well-being through higher perceived parental support for sexual orientation and lower thwarted belongingness. In addition, reciprocal filial piety had a stronger effect on perceived parental support for sexual orientation and perceived burdensomeness among lesbians and bisexual women than gay and bisexual men. These findings suggest that reciprocal filial piety is a protective factor, whereas authoritarian filial piety is a risk factor, for the mental well-being of Chinese LGB persons. Moreover, perceived parental support for sexual orientation and thwarted belongingness might be the mechanisms underlying the effect of reciprocal/authoritarian filial piety on mental well-being. Implications of findings for practice and research are discussed.