| Identifying and understanding factors associated with suicide has been a major goal of researchers and clinicians. Shneidman (1993) has proposed that psychache (i.e., unbearable psychological pain) is directly associated with suicidality, and mediates the effects of all other relevant factors, such as depression and hopelessness, in their association with suicide. The primary focus of this research was to test a model in which psychache mediates the relationship between perfectionism and suicidality, thereby supporting Shneidman's (1993) theory. Furthermore, the relationship between perfectionism and psychache was examined by determining whether it was mediated by psychache needs, as proposed by Shneidman (2001). A sample of 264 undergraduate students completed the Multidimensional Perfectionism Scale, the Psychache Needs Questionnaire, the Psychache Scale, the Scale for Suicide Ideation, and the Reasons for Attempting Suicide Questionnaire, and provided information about prior suicidal behaviour. As predicted, a series of regressions revealed that psychache fully mediated the relationship between perfectionism and suicidality. The hypothesis that the relationship between self-oriented and socially prescribed forms of perfectionism and psychache would be mediated by different sets of unfulfilled needs received partial support, and affiliation and autonomy emerged as important factors contributing to psychache. Theoretical and practical implications for the identification and management of suicide risk are discussed. |
