Self-Burdensomeness, Self-Esteem and Suicidal Ideation

Low self-esteem and self-burdensomeness have been proposed as risk factors for suicidal ideation. Yet, self-burdensomeness may be more relevant to suicidal ideation than low self-esteem. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the association between self-esteem, self-burdensomeness, and suicidal ideation in a sample of adult outpatients.

Data from N = 202 patients (66.3% female; age: M[SD] = 39.87 [13.31], range: 19–73) who started therapy at an outpatient clinic were collected. A subsample of n = 111 patients (68.5% female; age: M[SD] = 38.50 [13.48], range: 20–73) also took part in a second assessment three-months later.

Self-burdensomeness was shown to predict suicidal ideation concurrently and prospectively – after controlling for age, gender, depression, and self-esteem. Furthermore, self-burdensomeness completely mediated the association between self-esteem and suicidal ideation. However, the reverse relationship, where the association between self-burdensomeness and suicidal ideation is mediated by self-esteem, was not supported.

Self-burdensomeness might be understood as a driver of suicidal ideation. Findings point to the possibility that a focus on self-burdensomeness and/or low self-esteem might be relevant in the treatment of suicidal patients.