Suicide‐related interpersonal needs of young Iranian people: A preliminary validation of thwarted belongingness and perceived burdensomeness constructs

• Published in: Clinical psychology and psychotherapy Vol. 28; no. 2; pp. 422 - 437
• Main Authors: Amini‐Tehrani, Mohammadali, Sadeghi, Raheleh, Nasiri, Mohammad, Jalali, Tina, Zamanian, Hadi
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England John Wiley and Sons, Limited 01-03-2021
• Subjects: Anxiety; College students; Factor analysis; Interpersonal Needs Questionnaire; Mental depression; perceived burdensomeness; Population studies; psychometrics; Questionnaires; Suicide; Suicides & suicide attempts; thwarted belongingness; Validation studies; Validity; young people; psychometrics; perceived burdensomeness; thwarted belongingness; young people; suicide; Interpersonal Needs Questionnaire
• ISSN: 1063-3995; 1099-0879
• DOI: 10.1002/cpp.2507

The aim of the current study was to validate the Interpersonal Needs Questionnaire (INQ‐15) and to test its reliability in Persian‐speaking Iranian undergraduate students. In this cross‐sectional study, 485 undergraduate students (age: 20.66 ± 1.42, 60% female) were assessed on the two subscales of perceived burdensomeness (PB) and thwarted belongingness (TB) and the Suicide Behavior Questionnaire‐Revised (SBQ‐R). Exploratory structural equation modelling (ESEM) confirmed the construct validity of INQ‐14, excluding INQ#9. In addition, INQ#8, articulated in an equivalent Persian phrasing, loaded well on TB. The measurement model tested by confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) suggested INQ#11 to be eliminated, resulting in INQ‐13‐P to consist of PB and TB‐7. The internal consistency and convergent/discriminant validity were established. The concurrent validity of PB was solidly established in terms of past year suicidal ideation (PY‐SI) above and beyond anxiety, depression, prior suicidality, and TB‐7. The effect of PB on PY‐SI was stronger, where prior suicidality had already occurred or the perceived likelihood of future suicide (PLFS) was high. Moreover, TB‐7 could only indicate PY‐SI, where prior suicidality had already occurred or PLFS was high, albeit when PB was omitted. The interaction term was significant; however, beyond anxiety and depression, the effect of TB‐7 on PY‐SI was significant where PB was very high (n = 40, 8.25%). Therefore, future studies can utilize INQ‐13‐P as a valid and reliable instrument in Persian‐speaking populations. However, further studies should examine the construct validity of TB and its relationship with suicide ideation in different populations.