Tairi, T., Fitzgerald, J., Chadjipadelis, T., & Diamanti, P.
Cognitive vulnerability profiles and suicide risk in New Zealand adults: A cluster analysis
The current study investigated the association between cognitive vulnerability (cognitive distortions and dysfunctional attitudes) and suicide risk using hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA) and multiple correspondence analysis (MCA). Ninety-two adults aged 18-35 years from the community completed measures of dysfunctional cognitive processing, psychological well-being, and suicide risk. We observed three distinct groups, a high vulnerability group, a low vulnerability group, and an ambivalent vulnerability group. More than half of the respondents (60%) were in the high and low vulnerability groups, demonstrating the expected congruent combination of dysfunctional cognitive processing and suicide risk: individuals exhibiting high numbers of cognitive errors and dysfunctional attitudes screened positive for suicide risk and vice versa. These findings underscore the importance of directly addressing these faulty or biased ways of thinking when working with individuals at risk of suicide to reduce self-harm and suicidal behaviors.
Testing, Psychometrics, Methodology in Applied Psychology, 2022, Vol. 29, pp. 187-200, DOI: 10.4473/TPM29.2.2
