Italian validation of the interpersonal needs questionnaire (INQ-15-I) in a sample of university students

Abstract

Introduction
The Interpersonal Theory of Suicide posits that thwarted belongingness (TB) and perceived burdensomeness (PB) are proximal causes of current suicidal desire, while the acquired capability predicts suicide attempts (Joiner, 2005).

Objectives
This study examined the psychometric properties of the Interpersonal Needs Questionnaire (INQ-15-I), as a measure of the two constructs, on a sample of 458 Italian university students.

Methods
After examining the socio-demographic, clinical and psychosocial characteristics of the sample, we tested the differences in current suicidal ideation and lifetime suicide risk among students. We conducted a confirmatory factor analyses to identify the latent structure of the INQ-15-I and we tested the reliability, criterion concurrent validity and convergent/discriminant validity.

Results
The socio-demographic, clinical and psychosocial features of the sample are in line with the literature on the topic. A two-factor related model with 15 item, showed a good fit to the data and subscales showed excellent internal consistencies (α ≥ 0.84). TB, but mostly PB, were mainly correlated with concurrent suicidal ideation and less with suicidal risk. Divergent validity has emerged with the constructs of the acquired capability. Convergent validity is supported for similar constructs such as depression, low reasons for living, anxiety, interoceptive awareness, psychological pain, loneliness, absence of social support and low self-esteem.

Conclusions
INQ-15-I provides a valid measure of the interpersonal needs among Italian university students by indirectly investigating suicidal risk factors. It also suggest specific clinical intervention areas in suicide prevention. Thus it may be included in suicide risk assessment protocols in Italy.

Full text

Divergent validity emerged between both TB
and PB with the fearlessness of death.
Convergent validity is supported for similar
constructs of TB and PB; e.g. high state-trait
anxiety and depression, difficulty in dealing
with life problems and adopting adaptive
coping strategies (SCB), high interoceptive
awareness, psychological pain, loneliness,
absence of perceived social support and low
self-esteem.
CONCLUSIONS
This was the first study that examined the
psychometric properties of INQ-15-I among
Italian university students. INQ-15-I seems to
be avalid measure of the interpersonal
needs by indirectly investigating suicidal risk
factors, suggesting specific clinical
intervention areas in suicide prevention.
Thus it may be included, after further
research, in suicide risk assessment
protocols.
and we tested the reliability, criterion concurrent
validity and convergent/discriminant validity.
Suicidal outcomes
To test C-SI (i.e. SI in the last two weeks), we used
item 9 of the Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II),
while to assess LIF-SR,(i.e. lifetime SI, planning
and SAs), we used ad hoc items.
METHODS
The study was cross-sectional. We included
college students aged 18-29. The global sample
consisted of 458 subjects (mean age: 22.61 ± 2.44
years; females: 80.6%), who had completed the
online survey above 95%. Statistical analyses were
performed with SPSS-26 and corrected with the
Bonferroni method (p≤ .001).
Measures
Clinical measures included: anxiety (State-Trait
Anxiety Inventory; STAI-Y1 and STAI-Y2) and
depression (BDI-II). Psychosocial factors were:
loneliness (UCLA Loneliness Scale Version 3),
social support (Multidimensional Scale of
Perceived Social Support; MSPSS), self-esteem
(Rosenberg Self-Esteem scale) and reasons for
living (Reasons For Living Inventory; RFL). Then,
fearlessness of death (Acquired Capability for
Suicide Scale-FAD; ACSS-FAD), interoceptive
awareness (SAQ) and some scales for
psychological and physical pain (e.g. Psychache
Scale, VAS on Pain).
RESULTS
The prevalence of students with C-SI and LIF-SR
is 18.12% and 39.73% respectively. Socio-
demographic, clinical and psychosocial risk
factors for C-SI and LIF-SR are in line with the
literature on the topic:
INTRODUCTION
The Interpersonal Psychological Theory of
Suicide (IPTS) posits that Thwarted
Belongingness (TB) and Perceived
Burdensomeness (PB) are proximal causes of
suicidal desire, while the joint presence of the
Acquired Capability (AC) predicts lethal suicide
attempts (SAs) [1, 2].
OBJECTIVES
The aim was to investigate psychometric
properties of the Interpersonal Needs
Questionnaire (INQ-15-I) [3], as a measure of TB
and PB, on a sample of Italian university
students. After examining socio-demographic,
clinical and psychosocial features of the sample,
we tested the differences in current suicidal
ideation (C-SI) and lifetime suicide risk (LIF-SR).
We conducted a confirmatory factor analyses
(CFA) to identify latent factors of INQ-15-I
ITALIAN VALIDATION OF THE INTERPERSONAL NEEDS QUESTIONNAIRE (INQ-15-I) IN A SAMPLE OF UNIVERSITY STUDENTS
Sara Magliocca1, Francesca Dolenz1, Alice Silva1, Fabio Madeddu1, Raffaella Calati1,2
1University of Milano-Bicocca, Psychology, Milan, Italy, 2Nîmes University Hospital, Psychiatry, Nîmes, France
REFERENCES:
1. Joiner TE. (2005), Why people die by suicide. Harvard University Press, Cambridge
2. Van Orden, K. A., et al., (2010). The Interpersonal Theory of Suicide. Psychological Review, 117(2), 575–600.
3. Iliceto, P., et al. (2020). Psychometric properties of the Italian version of the Interpersonal Needs Questionnaire-15 (INQ-15-I). Journal of Clinical Psychology, April.
CFA confirmed a two-factor related model
(r=.25; total variance explained= 56.36%), with
15 items, 6 for PB and 9 for TB. Both subscales
showed excellent internal consistencies (PBα
=.89;TBα=.84). TB, but mostly PB, were mainly
correlated with C-SI (PBr=.46,p<.001), (TBr=.30,
p<.001) and less with LIF-SR (PBr=.38,p<.001),
(TBr=.24,p<.001).
Lethal
(or near
lethal)
Suicide
Attempts
TB
1) Loneliness
2) Absence of
reciprocal care
PB
1) Liability
2) Self-hate
Desire
For
Suicide
Capability
for suicide
AC
Figure 1. Assumptions of the IPTS
Table 1. Correlation coefficients for convergent / divergent validity.N = 458. SCB = Survival and Coping Beliefs (RFL
subscale). ** p <.01 *** p <.001
Socio-demographic
o↓age
oNot heterosexual
o↓level of education
oTherapeutic consultation
oTaking psychiatric drugs
Clinical and psychosocial
o↑Anxiety, Depression
o↑Loneliness, TB, PB
o↑Psychological pain
o↑Physical pain
o↓ Reason to live
STAI
Y1 STAI
Y2 BDI-II SCB
(RFL) SAQ Psichiche UCLA MSPSS Rosenberg ACSS-
FAD
INQ-15 .44*** .50*** .57*** −.47*** .35*** .52*** .74*** -.65*** -.52 .07
PB .36*** .46*** .59*** −.40*** .43*** .51*** .45*** −.29*** -.52*** .09
TB .38*** .41*** .43*** −.40*** .24*** .42*** .71*** −.66*** -.42*** .04
Copyright © 2021 sara.magliocca1@gmail.com
raffaella.calati@unimib.it