UROP Project

Reexamining the Interpersonal Theory of Suicide: A Return to Theoretical Precision

suicide, burdensomeness, belongingness, capability

Research Mentor: Dr. Thomas Joiner, he/him
Department, College, Affiliation: Florida State University, Arts and Sciences
Contact Email: edenbaum@psy.fsu.edu
Research Assistant Supervisor (if different from mentor): Emma R. Edenbaum she/her
Research Assistant Supervisor Email: edenbaum@psy.fsu.edu
Faculty Collaborators:
Faculty Collaborators Email:

Looking for Research Assistants: Yes
Number of Research Assistants: 1
Relevant Majors: (Clinical) Psychology
Project Location: On FSU Main Campus
Research Assistant Transportation Required:
Remote or In-person: In-person
Approximate Weekly Hours: 5-10 hours/week, Flexible schedule (Combination of business and outside of business. TBD between student and research mentor.)
Roundtable Times and Zoom Link:

• Day: Thursday, September 4
  Start Time: 1:00
  End Time: 1:30
  Zoom Link: https://fsu.zoom.us/j/95049217158

Project Description

Van Orden et al.'s (2010) interpersonal theory of suicide has been cited 6,614 times. As can be expected over 15 years, this ideation-to-action framework, designed to predict lethal suicide attempts, has been both strengthened by empirical progress and affected by concept creep. Leveraging the attention the theory has amassed, this study will revisit the ITS as originally proposed and test its claims with the most methodologically rigorous measures to date.

Research Tasks: Literature review, survey building, data collection, data analysis, poster design, academic writing. (TBD, depending on mentor and mentee comfort: Suicide Risk Assessments.)

Skills that research assistant(s) may need: The most important thing to bring to the table is passion, and the rest can be taught. Must be willing to engage with sensitive materials (i.e., detailed descriptions of [non]suicidal self-injurious thoughts and behavior) respectfully.