(PS9-34) Stress, Implicit Processing, and Suicide Risk: An Empirical Test of the ACASIA Model

Abstract Text: Background
Suicide ranks second as the leading cause of death for children aged 10-14 and young adults 25-34 in the US (CDC, 2021). The ACASIA Model proposes suicidal behavior results from the interplay between automatic (unintentional) and controlled (deliberate) cognitive processes (Olson et al., 2021). Individuals face heightened risk when exhibiting strong negative automatic associations and weakened protective motivations. Stress functions as an "opportunity" variable that reduces protective cognition, allowing automatic associations to influence behavior. Under stress, automatic negative associations may better predict suicidal ideation. This study examines how stress moderates relationships between implicit processing, hopelessness, impulsivity, optimism, and suicidal behaviors in college students, representing one of the first empirical tests of the ACASIA model.

Methods
Data collection is ongoing with a target sample of 500 undergraduates. Initial data (N=102) includes predominantly female students (76.5%; Mage=19.12) identifying as White (82.4%), Asian (7.8%), Biracial (5.9%), Hispanic (2.9%), and Black (1%). Measures include: Beck Hopelessness Scale for negative future attitudes; Suicide Behaviors Questionnaire-Revised measuring suicide risk; Perceived Stress Scale; Life Orientation Test-Revised for optimism; and urgency measures assessing impulsivity. Participants complete one implicit hopelessness measure: Implicit Association Test, evaluative priming, or Affect Misattribution Procedure, each assessing automatic future-negative associations.

Results
Data analysis will proceed in two main phases. First, we will conduct a confirmatory factor analysis to validate the measurement model, which will include the constructs of suicide behavior, perceived stress, hopelessness, urgency subscales, and optimism. Model fit will be evaluated using standard indices (CFI > .95, RMSEA < .06, SRMR < .08). Second, we will test a structural equation model examining how perceived stress moderates the relationships between implicit associations, hopelessness, impulsivity, and optimism and suicide behaviors. Based on our preliminary sample (N = 102) and planned recruitment (N = 500), we expect adequate power to detect hypothesized relationships (Wolf et al., 2013). Missing data will be handled using full information maximum likelihood estimation. For significant interactions, simple slope analyses will be conducted to interpret moderated effects.

Conclusions
This study examines whether stress modulates relationships between implicit processes, risk factors, and suicidal behaviors in college students. By focusing on stress's moderating role, this highlights when automatic negative associations may override protective processes, increasing suicide risk. The study underscores implicit measures' utility in capturing vulnerabilities less accessible via self-report. Findings may inform prevention interventions, suggesting strategies targeting stress regulation and implicit patterns that could be impactful for at-risk individuals.