J Korean Med Sci.  2021 Feb;36(5):e39. 10.3346/jkms.2021.36.e39.

Self-Transcendence Mediates the Relationship between Early Trauma and Fatal Methods of Suicide Attempts

• Yang JH
• Rhee SJ
• Park .HK
• Kim MJ
• Shin D
• Lee JW
• Kim J
• Kim H
• Lee HJ
• Ha K
• Ahn YM

• KMID: 2512462
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3346/jkms.2021.36.e39

Abstract

Background
Early trauma is known to be a risk factor of suicide-related behavior. On the other hand, people who attempt suicide using a fatal method are reported to be more likely to complete suicide. In this study, we assumed that early trauma affects an individual's temperament and character and thereby increases the risk of a fatal method of suicide attempts.
Methods
We analyzed 92 people with a history of previous suicide attempts. We compared the Temperament and Character Inventory-Revised scores between the groups with and without early trauma, and between the groups with and without a history of suicide attempt using fatal methods through an analysis of covariance with age, sex, and presence of a psychiatric history as covariates. A mediation analysis was conducted of the relationship between early trauma and fatal methods of suicide attempt with self-transcendence as a mediator.
Results
Higher self-transcendence was reported in the fatal group (27.71 ± 13.78 vs. 20.97 ± 12.27, P = 0.010) and the early trauma group (28.05 ± 14.30 vs. 19.43 ± 10.73, P = 0.001), respectively. The mediation model showed that self-transcendence mediates the relationship between early trauma and fatal methods of suicide attempt. The 95% confidence intervals for the direct and indirect effect were (−0.559, 1.390) and (0.026, 0.947), respectively.
Conclusion
Self-transcendence may mediate the relationship between early trauma and fatal methods of suicide attempt. Self-transcendence may be associated with unhealthy defenses and suicidal behavior for self-punishment and may constitute a marker of higher suicide risk.

Keyword

Suicide; Suicide Attempt; Temperament; Character

Figure

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  Fig. 1 Mediating effects of self-transcendence on relationships between early trauma and fatal methods of suicide attempt.Adjusted for age, sex and presence of a psychiatric history.

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