title: Cutaneous body image dissatisfaction and suicidal ideation: mediation by interpersonal sensitivity.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Cutaneous body image (CBI) dissatisfaction, feelings of social exclusion and stigmatization have been associated with increased suicidality in dermatology patients. We examined the relation between CBI dissatisfaction and suicidal ideation in a non-clinical sample, and examined the possible mediating effect of interpersonal sensitivity (IS), a symptom dimension related to self-consciousness, feelings of inferiority and social exclusion.
  
  
  METHODS
  As part of a larger study, 312 community-based participants from London, Ontario, Canada (241 women, 71 men; mean±SD age: 38.4±14.9years) rated their CBI satisfaction, measured with the Cutaneous Body Image Scale (Gupta MA et al., 2004). The Brief Symptom Inventory (BSI) (Derogatis L et al.,1982) was used to measure the constructs of suicidal ideation (4 suicide-related items from the BSI) and IS (Interpersonal Sensitivity subscale of BSI).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Assessing mediation using the Baron & Kenny (1986) model, CBI satisfaction had a significant negative effect on suicidal ideation [c=-0.316, t(296)=-5.73, p<0.001] and IS [a=-0.365, t(297)=-6.76, p<0.001]; when CBI satisfaction and IS were considered together, IS had a significant positive effect on suicidal ideation (b=.690, t(295)=15.80, p<.001) while the effect of CBI satisfaction on suicidal ideation was no longer significant [c*=-.063, t(295)=-1.44, ns].
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our findings suggest an inverse relationship between CBI satisfaction and suicidal ideation, which is mediated by IS. This relationship likely falls in a continuum between non-clinical and clinical situations, with suicide risk being greater when individuals experience greater CBI dissatisfaction and social alienation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada. magupta@uwo.ca
authors.forename: Madhulika A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Gupta
authors.forename: Aditya K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Gupta
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001828:Body Image; D003863:Depression; D004644:Emotions; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010549:Personal Satisfaction; D012307:Risk Factors; D012871:Skin Diseases / Q000523:psychology*; D012934:Social Isolation / Q000523:psychology*; D059020:Suicidal Ideation; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires