Degree Name
MA (Master of Arts)
Program
Psychology
Date of Award
5-2017
Committee Chair or Co-Chairs
Jon R. Webb
Committee Members
Stacey L. Williams, Chris S. Dula
Abstract
Growing evidence for protective factors of spirituality against physical and mental health related outcomes has led to the consideration of spirituality as a protective factor for suicidal behaviors. Although initial support for this association is promising, spirituality has yet to be explored as it relates to psychache. Additionally, self-forgiveness has emerged as an important protective factor of suicidal behavior, but has not been explored in the context of psychache. Following a model developed by Webb, Hirsch, and Toussaint (2015), the current project explores the protective role of spirituality on suicidal behavior based on three dimensions of spirituality: ritualistic, theistic, and existential. A total of 262 individuals completed a self-report survey online through Amazon Mechanical Turk. Results indicate that only Existential Spirituality is related to suicidal behaviors. Further, self-forgiveness and psychache were found to be serial mediators of this relationship. Implications for clinical interventions and directions for future research are discussed.
Document Type
Thesis - unrestricted
Recommended Citation
Hall, Benjamin B., "Spirituality and Suicidal Behavior: The Mediating Role of Self-Forgiveness and Psychache" (2017). Electronic Theses and Dissertations. Paper 3222. https://dc.etsu.edu/etd/3222
Included in
Clinical Psychology Commons, Health Psychology Commons, Multicultural Psychology Commons, Social Psychology Commons