Empirical support for an evolutionary model of self-destructive motivation.
We tested predictions generated from an evolutionary account of self-destructive motivation in two survey studies of 18-24-year-old university students. As hypothesized, hierarchical regressions showed that the positive relationship between perceived burden to family and suicide ideation was amplified for participants with low measured health and romantic relationship satisfaction, and for participants with relatively young mothers. The moderating effect of maternal age was also observed in logistic regressions of suicide attempts. These effects occurred independently of depression, hopelessness, and other relevant extraneous variables. Results have implications for understanding self-destructive motivation, assessing suicide risk, and preventing suicidal thinking and behavior.
Brown
R Michael
RM
Department of Psychology, Pacific Lutheran University, Tacoma, WA 98447-0003, USA. brownrm@plu.edu
Brown
Stephanie L
SL
Johnson
Aron
A
Olsen
Berit
B
Melver
Kristen
K
Sullivan
Mark
M
D000293:Adolescent; D005075:Biological Evolution; D003863:Depression; D004644:Emotions; D005190:Family / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D033062:Friends / Q000523:psychology; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008423:Maternal Age; D008960:Models, Psychological; D009042:Motivation; D010465:Perception; D013405:Suicide / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013850:Thinking; D055815:Young Adult