Empirical and Theoretical Overlap and Distinctiveness of Perceived Burdensomeness and Suicidal Ideation

Background: Although perceived burdensomeness and suicidal ideation are intended to be distinct constructs, they are often overlapping in both research and clinical settings. Such overlap provides room for error during assessment and analysis, with uncertainty in the degree to which PB and SI represent unique constructs. The present study evaluated what is represented in a SI variable with PB covaried out, and vice versa. Methods: 312 students with lifetime suicidal ideation (M_age = 19.10, 79.8% cisgender women, 75.6% White) completed self-report measures. We computed two variables—PB with SI covaried out and SI with PB covaried out—and examined relationships between these residuals and other suicide-related risk factors. Results: When SI was covaried out of PB, the PB residual remained significantly associated with nearly all risk factors. However, when PB was covaried out of SI, more than half of these suicide risk factors were no longer significantly associated with the SI residual. Conclusions: Our findings could hold relevance for advancing both clinical and research efforts, as most risk factors were uniquely associated with PB, as opposed to SI. Specifically, PB may act as a mediator between a plethora of suicide risk factors and SI, while also holding relevancy in other domains.