Date of Award

Fall 10-30-2023

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy in Clinical Psychology (PhD)

Department

Clinical Psychology

First Advisor/Committee Member

Keyne C. Law

Second Advisor/Committee Member

Thane M. Erickson

Third Advisor/Committee Member

Erin M. Miga

Abstract

Suicidal ideation disproportionally affects the LGBTQ+ community. Community connectedness and mindfulness can be protective against suicidal ideation, whereas emotion regulation difficulty is associated with increased suicidal ideation. Community connectedness, emotion regulation difficulty and mindfulness have demonstrated relationships to each other in the LGBTQ+ community and while they are each independently associated with suicidal ideation, their combined impact on suicidal ideation has not yet been examined. The present study examines moderating effects of emotion regulation difficulty and mindfulness on the relationship between community connectedness and suicidal ideation in LGBTQ+ adults. 141 LGBTQ+ adults completed self-report measures of suicidal ideation, community connectedness, emotion regulation difficulty, and mindfulness. A moderated regression analysis showed significant main effects of community connectedness, emotion regulation difficulty, and mindfulness on suicidal ideation, with community connectedness and mindfulness no longer reaching significance with emotion regulation difficulty accounted for. There were no significant interaction effects. Exploratory analysis showed the mindful action mindfulness facet moderated the relationship between the impulsiveness emotion regulation difficulty facet and suicidal ideation such that high impulsiveness with high mindful action had the highest levels of suicidal ideation. Results indicate that while community connectedness, emotion dysregulation, and mindfulness all impacted suicidal ideation independently, the relationship between these variables remains unclear. Future research should seek to further clarify the moderating and mediating roles of community connectedness, emotion dysregulation, and mindfulness and identify promising treatment targets for suicidal ideation in the LGBTQ+ community.

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