Suicide is a significant public health issue, with over 703,000 deaths occurring globally each year (WHO, 2021). The pathways to suicide are complex and involve numerous risk factors, with loneliness emerging as one of the most prevalent risk factors in recent years (McClelland, 2020). Despite this, progress in predicting suicidal behavior has been limited, with loneliness being improperly associated with older age when it can occur across the lifespan, negatively impacting individuals’ health and increasing the risk of social isolation.
Loneliness has gained attention from organizations worldwide, with up to 17% of the general population experiencing loneliness at some point in their lives (Beutel et al. 2017). Additionally, loneliness has consistently been associated with suicidal thoughts and behaviors, as suggested by the Integrated Motivational-Volition (IVM) model (O’Conner & Kirtley, 2018).
This study aims to investigate different types of loneliness (family, social, and romantic) in relation to suicidal ideation and self-injurious behaviors to develop more nuanced suicide prevention strategies and support those at risk of self-harm.
Methods
This online cross-sectional study examined the relationships between different types of loneliness and self-injurious thoughts and behaviors. Participants were categorized based on their history of self-harm, and data was collected using opportunistic sampling.
Results
In total, 582 participants were included in the study, and findings indicated that different types of loneliness were associated with suicidal ideation and behavior. Suicidal ideation was significantly associated with loneliness, depression, defeat, and entrapment. Furthermore, romantic loneliness had an adverse association with depression and suicidal ideation.
Conclusions
The study findings support the notion that loneliness is a multifaceted concept and needs further exploration. Depression mediated the association between certain forms of loneliness and suicidal ideation, highlighting the need to consider the type of loneliness experienced by individuals.
Strengths and Limitations
The study provides valuable insights into the association between loneliness and suicidal ideation. However, the majority of the sample was white, female, and young adults, raising questions about the generalizability of the findings. Additionally, the study’s cross-sectional design limits the ability to establish causality, and the reporting lacks clarity in some areas.
Overall, the study contributes to our understanding of the complex relationship between loneliness and suicidal ideation, but more research is needed to build a robust evidence base and address the limitations identified in this study.
