Browsing by Author "Naidoo, Sarojini."

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An exploration of the relationship between interpersonal needs and nonsuicidal self-injury in adolescents.
(2018) De Villiers, Ariel Emma.; Naidoo, Sarojini.
Nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI) has become a worrying phenomenon amongst adolescents worldwide, emphasising the need for increasing public health awareness and exploration of the factors associated with this behaviour. The current study is motivated by the need to explore the contagion of self-injury. The Interpersonal-Psychological Theory of Suicide by Joiner posits that suicide ideation occurs in the presence of two interpersonal needs constructs: thwarted belongingness and perceived burdensomeness, and that the risk of a lethal suicide attempt occurs in the joint presence of suicide ideation and the capability to enact NSSI. The aim of this study was to explore the relationship between the interpersonal needs constructs of Joiner’s theory and NSSI. A cross-sectional convenience sampling method was utilised to obtain a sample of 216 adolescents, who were recruited from three schools in the greater Durban area. Binary logistic regression analyses were performed to establish whether a relationship existed between the interpersonal needs constructs and NSSI. The results indicated a positive relationship between perceived burdensomeness and the occurrence of NSSI in this sample, thereby illuminating thwarted interpersonal needs as a contributor to the occurrence of NSSI in adolescents. It is hoped that the findings of this study will further the understanding of this perplexing behaviour.
An exploration of the relationships amongst the constructs of the interpersonal-psychological theory of suicidal behaviour in an outpatient clinical population sample in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.
(2016) Van Wyk, Nicole.; Naidoo, Sarojini.
Suicidal behaviour presents a significant global concern. Despite several global studies on suicide; there remains a lack of a comprehensive theory of suicidal behaviour. Several theories have been proposed over the years in an effort to conceptualize suicidal behaviour; however to date, no theory has been able to accurately account for the various factors involved in suicidal behaviour. Joiner (2005) proposed a theory of suicidal behaviour – the interpersonal-psychological theory of suicidal behaviour – where he builds upon the strengths of previous theories, as well as the literature on suicide risk factors, to provide, arguably, the most accurate theoretical account of suicidal behaviour to date. According to Joiner’s (2005) interpersonal-psychological theory of suicide, an individual will die by suicide because: i) they can, and ii) they want to. The current study explored the relationships amongst the constructs of Joiner’s (2005) interpersonal-psychological theory in an outpatient clinical population, with the aim of adding to the body of knowledge on suicide in South Africa, particularly with regards to theoretical understanding. The study enrolled 239 participants receiving psychological services at state hospitals, an outpatient clinic, or private facility. The findings of the current study indicated that the most significant predictors of suicide desire were: symptoms of depression, marital status, and the simultaneous presence of thwarted belongingness and perceived burdensomeness. This finding was expected given the theory’s claim that a sense of interpersonal distress is likely to result in suicidal desire, as well as the literature on suicide indicating, that the presence of psychopathology, particularly depression, is a risk factor for suicide. In the current study, acquired capability for suicide was not found to be a significant predictor of suicide risk, which was expected. The constructs of Joiner’s (2005) interpersonal-psychological theory have yielded interesting findings in studies conducted abroad thus far. Further research using Joiner’s (2005) interpersonal-psychological theory in South Africa would be beneficial, particularly amongst a sample with current / a history of suicide desire.
Exploring the demographic and mental health predictors of the constructs of the interpersonal-psychological theory of suicidal behaviour.
(2017) Scher, Alexa Jane.; Naidoo, Sarojini.
Suicidal behaviour is an increasingly serious public health concern across the world. There is limited research on suicidal behaviour in South Africa, particularly around theoretical models, which is required to improve our understanding of suicidal behaviour. Joiner’s (2005) Interpersonal-Psychological Theory of Suicidal Behaviour (IPTS) is a comprehensive theory that focuses on intra- and interpersonal influences in the development of suicidal behaviour whilst acknowledging neurobiological correlates. The aim of this study was to explore the demographic and mental health predictors of the constructs and outcomes of the IPTS. Using a purposive sampling method, a sample of 239 psychiatric outpatients was recruited into the study. Standard multiple linear regression and binary logistic regression analyses were performed to establish which demographic variables and mental illnesses were predictors of the constructs and outcomes of the theory. The results indicated that thwarted belongingness and interpersonal hopelessness were not significantly associated with demographic variables, whilst being a female, being unemployed and having a lower level of education were significantly associated with perceived burdensomeness, and younger age, being male and being employed were significantly associated with acquired capability for suicide. Being diagnosed with an anxiety disorder, borderline personality disorder and substance use disorder were significantly associated with lower levels of TB, whilst all of the mental illnesses (except impulse control disorder) were significantly associated with PB. None of the mental illnesses were significantly associated with IH or AC for suicide. Low levels of education were significantly associated with all three outcomes, whilst being unemployed was significantly associated with death ideation, being Black or Coloured was significantly associated with suicidal ideation and being of a younger age was significantly associated with suicide risk. Lastly, borderline personality disorder and substance use disorder were significantly associated with all three outcomes, whilst bipolar mood disorder, major depressive disorder, schizophrenia and bereavement were also significantly associated with death ideation and bipolar mood disorder was also significantly associated with suicide risk. These findings further our understanding of the role that demographic variables and mental disorders play in the development of suicidal behaviour in the unique South African context, with the study having the potential to inform both the assessment of suicide risk and the development of prevention and intervention initiatives to minimise suicide risk in practice.
Perceived academic stress and coping strategies among first year Psychology students at a tertiary institution.
(2020) Colborne, Jarryd Wesley.; Naidoo, Sarojini.
Stress can be understood as a complex interplay between external forces of the environment (known as stressors) and the perceived ability of individuals to adapt to them. Unhealthy amounts of stress have a systemic effect in the sense that it can have multiple effects on an individual’s biological, psychological, and sociocultural functioning. Coping can be defined as a cognitive and behavioural response to alleviate the physical, emotional and psychological burden associated with various stress. This study aimed at exploring the variables of perceived academic stress and coping strategies amongst an undergraduate psychology student population, as well as the relationship between the variables. Findings illustrated a high level of perceived academic stress in the sample, with no specific gender and age differences. It was also found that the sample made use of adaptive coping techniques more often, with a higher level amongst male participants as compared to females. In terms of correlational analyses, a weak negative relationship was found between perceived academic stress and maladaptive coping. It is hoped that the present study will offer further insight into how the undergraduate population perceives academic stress and how they ultimately cope. The findings of this study may be of use to student counselling centres at higher education institutions and help guide future initiatives aimed at enhancing students’ wellbeing.
Testing the interpersonal-psychological theory of suicidal behaviour (ipts) in the South African context.
(2016) Naidoo, Sarojini.; Collings, Steven John.
In spite of suicidality being a global mental health care problem, there has been relatively little empirical advancement in the conceptualization of suicide in recent years. Joiner’s (2005) Interpersonal-Psychological theory of suicidal behaviour (IPTS) attempts to answer the question of why people die by suicide. Joiner contends that people die by suicide because they can and because they want to. He proposes that the confluence of the interpersonal states of perceived burdensomeness and thwarted belongingness is the condition under which death ideation transforms into suicidal ideation, and in the presence of a third construct, an acquired capability for suicide, leads to a lethal suicide attempt. The theory has been lauded as an empirical advancement in our understanding of suicidality, as it provides testable hypotheses that translate into practical interventions. However, tests of the theory have provided inconsistent support for its hypotheses. Using a sample of 239 psychiatric outpatients from nine sites, the main hypotheses of Joiner’s theory were tested in the present study. Study findings provide unqualified support for all key IPTS hypotheses: Perceived burdensomeness and thwarted belongingness independently predicted death ideation; the confluence of these interpersonal states, in the presence of hopelessness regarding these states, predicted suicidal ideation and finally, the joint presence of acquired capability for suicide and suicidal ideation was associated with moderate to high risk for a suicide attempt. In addition, two new measures were developed for the present study: (a) the Death Inurement Scale and (b) the Interpersonal Hopelessness Scale, to address the limitations of available measures. Demographic and mental health predictors of IPTS constructs were also explored using regression analyses. The study findings suggest that the IPTS is a valid theory for understanding suicidal behaviour in the South African context. The findings are discussed with respect to their implications for theory, practice, and future research.