Resilience as positive coping appraisals: Testing the schematic appraisals model of suicide (SAMS).
OBJECTIVE
The Schematic Appraisals Model of Suicide (SAMS) suggests that positive self-appraisals may be important for buffering suicidal thoughts and behaviours, potentially providing a key source of resilience. The current study aimed to explore whether positive self-appraisals buffered individuals from suicidality in the face of stressful life events.


METHODS
78 participants who reported experiencing some degree of suicidality were recruited from a student population. They completed a battery of questionnaires including measures of suicidality, stressful life events and positive self-appraisals.


RESULTS
Positive self-appraisals moderated the association between stressful life events and suicidality. For those reporting moderate or high levels of positive self-appraisals, raised incidence of stressful life events did not lead to increases in suicidality.


CONCLUSIONS
These results support the SAMS framework, and suggest that positive self-appraisals may confer resilience to suicide. Positive self-appraisals may be a promising avenue for further resilience research, and an important area to target for suicide interventions.
Johnson
J
J
University of Manchester, UK. judith.johnson@postgrad.manchester.ac.uk
Gooding
P A
PA
Wood
A M
AM
Tarrier
N
N
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008960:Models, Psychological; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012649:Self Concept; D013315:Stress, Psychological; D013405:Suicide / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult