Using MMPI-3-Derived Thwarted Belongingness and Perceived Burdensomeness Scales to Predict Suicide Ideation Among College Students with Elevated Depressive Symptoms

The interpersonal theory of suicide (ITS) conceptualizes thwarted belongingness (TB) and perceived burdensomeness (PB) as sufficient and proximal suicide ideation (SI) risk factors. The Interpersonal Needs Questionnaire (INQ) is used to assess TB and PB; however, it does not capture all aspects of these constructs. The MMPI-3 M3-TB and M3-PB proxy scales may measure additional facets. In this study, college students (N = 139) screened for elevated depressive symptoms completed MMPI-2-RF-EX (from which the MMPI-3 was scored), INQ and SI assessments at baseline, and then SI assessments over six weeks. Results indicated M3-TB and M3-PB showed convergent validity with significant concordant correlations with INQ-TB and INQ-PB. M3-TB and M3-PB did not demonstrate discriminant validity, as tests of differences between concordant (e.g., M3-TB with INQ-TB) and discordant correlations (e.g., M3-TB with INQ-PB) were not significant. All ITS variables were significantly associated with retrospective and prospective SI. Prospective findings, but not retrospective findings, were more consistently significant when adjusting for the SUI scale. Including ITS variable interaction terms (i.e., M3-TBxM3-PB and INQ-TBxINQ-PB) did not improve the prediction of SI outcomes. Findings are broadly congruent with other ITS research findings: TB and PB prospectively predict SI, and the TBxPB interaction does not improve prediction.