CHFA | Psychology Department Showcase: Completed Projects
Academic Level at Time of Presentation
Graduate
Major
Clinical Psychology
List all Project Mentors & Advisor(s)
Michael Bordieri, PhD
Presentation Format
Poster Presentation
Abstract/Description
Chronic pain is a burdensome condition that has been found to be associated with increased suicide risk, yet the mechanisms underlying this relationship remain unclear (Domenichiello & Ramsden, 2019). The present study aimed to examine the role of pain interference and psychological inflexibility in predicting past two-week suicidal thoughts among individuals with chronic pain, with psychological inflexibility explored as a potential moderator. This study also sought to replicate and extend McCracken et al. (2018) and enhance the understanding of suicidality in chronic pain populations by using the Multidimensional Psychological Flexibility Inventory (Rolffs et al., 2018b), a more psychometrically sound measure of psychological flexibility and inflexibility. Results from 155 participants with chronic pain supported Hypothesis 1, indicating that pain interference significantly predicted suicidal ideation, replicating prior work by McCracken and colleagues (2018). Hypothesis 2 was partially supported, as while the overall model of psychological inflexibility predicted suicidal ideation, only the subcomponent of lack of contact with the present moment emerged as a significant individual predictor. This finding extends previous work by identifying present-moment awareness as a key contributor to suicidality in this population. Contrary to Hypothesis 3, psychological inflexibility did not significantly moderate the relationship between pain interference and suicidal ideation. Instead, both factors were significant conditional predictors. These findings deepen the understanding of the psychological mechanisms underlying suicidality in chronic pain populations and highlight the potential value of interventions targeting psychological flexibility, such as ACT and mindfulness-based interventions, as a means to mitigate suicide risk.
Spring Scholars Week 2025
Psychology: Completed Projects
Bending but Not Breaking: An Investigation of the Relationship between Psychological Flexibility and Suicidality in Individuals with Chronic Pain
Chronic pain is a burdensome condition that has been found to be associated with increased suicide risk, yet the mechanisms underlying this relationship remain unclear (Domenichiello & Ramsden, 2019). The present study aimed to examine the role of pain interference and psychological inflexibility in predicting past two-week suicidal thoughts among individuals with chronic pain, with psychological inflexibility explored as a potential moderator. This study also sought to replicate and extend McCracken et al. (2018) and enhance the understanding of suicidality in chronic pain populations by using the Multidimensional Psychological Flexibility Inventory (Rolffs et al., 2018b), a more psychometrically sound measure of psychological flexibility and inflexibility. Results from 155 participants with chronic pain supported Hypothesis 1, indicating that pain interference significantly predicted suicidal ideation, replicating prior work by McCracken and colleagues (2018). Hypothesis 2 was partially supported, as while the overall model of psychological inflexibility predicted suicidal ideation, only the subcomponent of lack of contact with the present moment emerged as a significant individual predictor. This finding extends previous work by identifying present-moment awareness as a key contributor to suicidality in this population. Contrary to Hypothesis 3, psychological inflexibility did not significantly moderate the relationship between pain interference and suicidal ideation. Instead, both factors were significant conditional predictors. These findings deepen the understanding of the psychological mechanisms underlying suicidality in chronic pain populations and highlight the potential value of interventions targeting psychological flexibility, such as ACT and mindfulness-based interventions, as a means to mitigate suicide risk.