The joint effects of loneliness and interpersonal abuse on suicidal thoughts and behaviors among young adults in higher education in the United States

BackgroundLoneliness and interpersonal abuse are two factors that contribute to suicide risk, but studies exploring their interactions on suicidal thoughts and behaviors are lacking. Thus, our aim was to examine potential synergies between loneliness and interpersonal abuse among young adults in hig...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores: Oh H, Hajek A, Du J, Smith L, Leaune E, Jacob L
Tipo de recurso: artículo
Estado:Versión publicada
Fecha de publicación:2025
País:España
Institución:Fundació Sant Joan de Déu
Repositorio:r-FSJD. Repositorio Institucional de Producción Científica de la Fundació Sant Joan de Déu
OAI Identifier:oai:fsjd.fundanetsuite.com:p28974
Acceso en línea:https://fsjd.fundanetsuite.com/Publicaciones/ProdCientif/PublicacionFrw.aspx?id=28974
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palabra clave:Interpersonal abuse
Loneliness
Suicide
Suicidal ideation
Suicide attempt
Violence
United states
Descripción
Sumario:BackgroundLoneliness and interpersonal abuse are two factors that contribute to suicide risk, but studies exploring their interactions on suicidal thoughts and behaviors are lacking. Thus, our aim was to examine potential synergies between loneliness and interpersonal abuse among young adults in higher education.MethodsWe analyzed data from the Healthy Minds Study (2020-2021; N = 101,744) and used multivariable logistic regression models to show the interaction between loneliness (UCLA 3-item Loneliness Scale) and interpersonal abuse (verbal, physical, and/or sexual) on suicidal thoughts and behaviors (suicidal ideation, suicide plans, suicide attempts), adjusting for age, gender, race/ethnicity, depression, anxiety, and food insecurity.ResultsThose who only reported being lonely had significantly greater odds of suicidal ideation (aOR: 3.01; 95% CI: 2.72-3.33), and those who only reported interpersonal abuse also had greater odds (aOR: 2.97; 95% CI: 2.52-3.50), when compared to those who reported neither. However, those who endorsed both loneliness and interpersonal abuse had the greatest odds (aOR: 5.65; 95% CI: 5.09-6.27), exceeding the sum of these individual effects. A similar and more pronounced pattern emerged for suicide plans and suicide attempts.ConclusionA synergy exists between loneliness and interpersonal abuse in relation to suicidal thoughts and behaviors among young adults in higher education.