title: Insomnia and suicide-related behaviors: A multi-study investigation of thwarted belongingness as a distinct explanatory factor.
abstract: Insomnia is a robust correlate of suicidal ideation and behavior. Preliminary research has identified thwarted belongingness (c.f. social disconnection) as an explanatory link between insomnia and suicidal ideation.
  
  
  
  This study replicates and extends previous findings using both cross-sectional and longitudinal designs in four demographically diverse samples. Additionally, the specificity of thwarted belongingness was evaluated by testing anxiety as a rival mediator.
  
  
  
  Self-report measures of insomnia symptoms, thwarted belongingness, suicidal ideation and behavior, and anxiety were administered in four adult samples: 469 undergraduate students, 352 psychiatric outpatients, 858 firefighters, and 217 primary care patients.
  
  
  
  More severe insomnia was associated with more severe thwarted belongingness and suicidality. Thwarted belongingness significantly accounted for the association between insomnia and suicidality, cross-sectionally and longitudinally, beyond anxiety. Notably, findings supported the specificity of thwarted belongingness: anxiety did not significantly mediate the association between insomnia and suicidality, and insomnia did not mediate the relation between thwarted belongingness and suicidality.
  
  
  
  This study relied solely on self-report measures. Future studies incorporating objective sleep measurements are needed.
  
  
  
  Findings underscore the utility of assessing and addressing sleep disturbances and social disconnection to reduce suicide risk.
authors: Florida State University, Department of Psychology, 1107 West Call St., Tallahassee, FL 32306, USA. Electronic address: chu@psy.fsu.edu.
authors: Carol
authors: C
authors: Chu
authors: Florida State University, Department of Psychology, 1107 West Call St., Tallahassee, FL 32306, USA.
authors: Melanie A
authors: MA
authors: Hom
authors: Florida State University, Department of Psychology, 1107 West Call St., Tallahassee, FL 32306, USA.
authors: Megan L
authors: ML
authors: Rogers
authors: Florida State University, Department of Psychology, 1107 West Call St., Tallahassee, FL 32306, USA.
authors: Ian H
authors: IH
authors: Stanley
authors: Florida State University, Department of Psychology, 1107 West Call St., Tallahassee, FL 32306, USA.
authors: Fallon B
authors: FB
authors: Ringer-Moberg
authors: Florida State University, Department of Psychology, 1107 West Call St., Tallahassee, FL 32306, USA.
authors: Matthew C
authors: MC
authors: Podlogar
authors: East Tennessee State University, Department of Psychology, 420 Rogers-Stout Hall, Johnson City, TN 37614, USA.
authors: Jameson K
authors: JK
authors: Hirsch
authors: Florida State University, Department of Psychology, 1107 West Call St., Tallahassee, FL 32306, USA.
authors: Thomas E
authors: TE
authors: Joiner
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001007:Anxiety / Q000523:psychology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D061388:Firefighters / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000523:psychology; D008875:Middle Aged; D011320:Primary Health Care; D012307:Risk Factors; D007319:Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders / Q000523:psychology*; D012919:Social Behavior; D059020:Suicidal Ideation; D013406:Suicide, Attempted / Q000523:psychology*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Anxiety; Insomnia; Sleep disturbance; Suicidal behavior; Suicidal ideation; Thwarted belongingness