Testing the role of perceived responsiveness in suicidal ideation: an experience sampling study in psychiatric inpatients

Perceived responsiveness, or the extent to which one feels understood, validated, and cared for by close others, has shown to play a crucial role in people’s health and well-being. Can this specific interpersonal process also play a protective role in suicidal ideation for people at risk? We assessed if fluctuations in suicidal ideation were associated with fluctuations in the degree of perceived responsiveness that psychiatric patients (admitted in the context of suicidal ideation or attempts or indicating suicidal ideation at intake) experienced in daily interactions immediately after discharge. Specifically, 57 patients reported repeatedly on suicidal ideation (5 times a day) and perceived responsiveness (daily) for 4 consecutive weeks. Effects of established risk factors – thwarted belongingness, perceived burdensomeness, and hopelessness- were assessed as well. Multilevel analyses revealed that the more patients felt that close others had been responsive to them, the less suicidal ideation they reported. At low levels of thwarted belongingness, perceived burdensomeness or hopelessness, perceived responsiveness seemed to play a protective role, negatively co-occurring with suicidal ideation. When thwarted belongingness, perceived burdensomeness and hopelessness were high, perceived responsiveness did not have an additional effect. These findings suggest that perceived responsiveness can be a protective factor for suicidal ideation for people at risk. In moments when their negative perceptions are too high, however, this seems to overwrite the positive effects of their social bonds.