(PS11-36) Examining the Additive and Multiplicative Effects of Self-report and Laboratory Assessments of Capability for Suicide in Relation to Suicide Risk

The interpersonal theory for suicide posits that multiple vulnerability factors contributes to suicide risk. Factors associated with increased suicidal desire include thwarted belongingness and perceived burdensomeness. However, it is hypothesized that habituation to painful and provoking experiences as well as fearlessness about death increase one’s capability to attempt and potentially die by suicide. Existing research has examined the associations between fearlessness of death and pain sensitivity and tolerance in isolation or additively in relation to suicide risk. No studies to our knowledge have examined the multiplicative effects of pain and fearlessness about death in relation to suicide risk. Thus, the present study tested the additive effects of a laboratory-based pain task (e.g., pain tolerance and sensitivity) and a self-report measure of fearlessness about death and their respective interaction effects in relation to suicide risk, controlling for depression. Participants were 132 young women (18-30 years old, M_age = 20.93, SD = 3.09; White 60.3%, Black 5.1%, Asian 19.1%, Hispanic/Latine 5.1%, Indigenous American 2.2%, Multiracial 5.9%; Lesbian 8.1%, Bisexual 25%, Pansexual 5.9%, Asexual 2.9%, Heterosexual 52.9%, Other sexual orientation 2.9%) who completed a laboratory pain task, using a pain algometer, and self-report measures of fearlessness about death, depression, and suicide risk. Hierarchical linear regressions were used to examine the additive effects of pain tolerance and sensitivity, as well as fearlessness about death, while controlling for depression symptoms in step 1 and 2. The interaction effects between laboratory assessments of pain and fearlessness about death were modeled in step 3. All independent variables were mean centered. Results suggest that pain tolerance was positively associated with suicide risk (B < 0.01, p = .030), even after controlling for depression symptoms, but pain sensitivity and fearlessness about death were not significantly associated with suicide risk (ps > .166; R² = .25). There was a significant interaction effect between pain tolerance and fearlessness about death (B< -0.01, p=.005). Simple slope analyses revealed that at low levels of fearlessness about death, there was a significant positive association between pain tolerance and suicide risk, but not at low levels. Findings expand on previous work and suggest that psychological and physical characteristics are interdependent in relation to suicide risk. Additional studies are needed to examine the temporally whether fluctuations in different facets of acquired capability for suicide differentially predict changes in suicide risk.