(PS9-43) The Role of Social Presence in Moderating the Direct and Indirect Real-Time Relationships Between Thwarted Belongingness, Rumination, and Suicidal Ideation

Abstract Text: Thwarted belongingness (TB), characterized by a feeling of loneliness/perceived social disconnection, and rumination, characterized by repetitive negative thinking about the causes and consequences of one’s distress, are known suicide risk factors. Less understood are factors that may exacerbate or buffer the relationships between TB, rumination, and suicidal ideation. The presence of one’s actual interpersonal interactions (e.g., being alone or in the presence of a close other—like a friend, family member, or pet) may impact the strength of these associations. The current study examined the momentary (within-person via ecological momentary assessments) and overall (between-person) effects of TB on suicidal ideation through rumination, and how being alone and/or with friends, family, and pets may moderate these associations.

Participants were 147 at-risk college students (Mage = 21.4, 80.8% cisgender women, 64.4% White, 44.5% heterosexual) who completed one week of six daily phone-based surveys. During each survey, respondents were asked to provide their current levels of TB and rumination, whether or not they were currently experiencing suicidal ideation, and indicate who they were currently with, if anyone, at that moment.

First, the relationship between TB and rumination was moderated by being alone (B = .04, SE = .01, p = .005), with friends (B = -.08, SE = .02, p < .001), and with pets (B = .09, SE = .02, p < .001), but not with family (B = .01, SE = .03, p = .816), at the within-person, but not between-person (ps = .091 to .622), level. That is, the association between TB and rumination was stronger when alone or with pets, but weaker when with friends. Second, the relationship between rumination and suicidal ideation was not moderated by social presence at the within-person (ps = .175 to .716) or between-person (ps = .304 to .697), suggesting there to be no effect of social presence on the link between rumination and suicidal ideation. Third, the relationship between TB and suicidal ideation was moderated by being alone (OR = 1.52, p = .001), with friends (OR = .50, p < .001), and pets (OR = p = .020) moderated the relationship between TB and suicidal ideation at the within-person, but not between-person (ps = .288. to .901), levels. Family did not moderate this relationship at either the within-person (OR = 1.19, p = .445) or between-person (OR = .62, p = .632) level. Specifically, the association between TB and suicidal ideation was stronger among those who were currently alone or with pets, but weaker among those who were currently with friends.

Overall, the levels at which social presence interacted with relationships between TB, rumination, and suicidal ideation suggest differential outcomes depending on whether someone is alone or with others. Being alone and with pets may pose as a greater risk for ruminative thinking and suicidal thoughts alongside feelings of TB, whereas friends may be a buffer on these relationships. Family did not impact these relationships, suggesting a lower impact of in-person familial relationships among college students. Overall, findings suggest implications for further work and interventions. Additional conclusions and implications will be addressed.