Testing the assumptions of the integrated motivational-volitional model of suicidal behavior: Unraveling motivational moderators in the relationship between defeat, entrapment, and ideation

Abstract

The present research employed a two-study design with distinct methodological phases and samples to examine associations between defeat, entrapment, and suicidal ideation within the Integrated Motivational-Volitional Model (IMV) of Suicidal Behavior. In Study 1 (N = 346, 74.9% female, Mage = 20.95), the Short Defeat and Entrapment Scale (SDES) was adapted into Turkish to ensure its theoretical and cultural relevance. Study 2 (N = 397, 75.8% female, Mage = 21.25) investigated the mediator role of entrapment in the relationship between defeat and suicidal ideation and the moderator roles of perceived burdensomeness, thwarted belongingness, and perceived social support in the relationship between entrapment and suicidal ideation. Results indicated that entrapment partially mediated the link between defeat and suicidal ideation. While perceived burdensomeness did not moderate the entrapment-suicidal ideation relationship, thwarted belongingness and perceived social support demonstrated positive and negative moderation effects, respectively. These findings contribute to the emerging IMV-based literature in T & uuml;rkiye and extend the methodological tools available for suicide research in the context of young adulthood, a developmental group characterized by heightened vulnerability to suicidal thoughts and behaviors, underscoring the importance of addressing both individual vulnerabilities and social resources in prevention efforts.