Self-blame, social introversion, and male suicides: Prospective data from a longitudinal study

This study examines the use of 7 Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI; Hathaway & Briggs, 1940) subscales in their ability to differentiate between male suicide completers and 1) clinically depressed men, and 2) a deceased control group consisting of men who have died of medical causes. Data were collected from a nonclinical student population that was followed longitudinally. The 7 scales, chosen to reflect aspects of coping and emotional resources include two of the original scales, Defensiveness (K), Social Introversion (Si), and supplementary scales: Ego Strength (Es; Barron, 1953), Blaming Self (Bs; Finney, 1965), Impulsivity (Imp; Gough, 1957), Suppression and Outburst of Hostility (Soh; Finney, 1965), and Motivation to Change (Mtc; Volsky, Magom, Norman & Hoyt, 1965). Results indicated that suicide completers had significantly higher scores on Bs and Si when compared with deceased controls. These scales were near significant in differentiating between suicide completers and depressed controls. The results of this study suggest that those who eventually commit suicide may endorse greater tendencies toward self-blame and social introversion during early adulthood.

Duke Scholars

Author Ilene C. Siegler Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, Behavioral Medicine & Neur ...