2012/02/17 by John F. Gunn, David Lester, Janet Haines +1 · 1 citation
Psychology · Social Sciences · #Suicide and Self-Harm Studies #Homicide, Infanticide, and Child Abuse #Grief, Bereavement, and Mental Health
paper · doi:10.1027/0227-5910/a000123
openalex publication_date 2012/02/17 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/23
BACKGROUND: Joiner's interpersonal theory of suicide postulates that suicide occurs because of thwarted belongingness and perceived burdensomeness, combined with a capability for committing suicide. AIMS: The present study examines the frequency of the presence of the themes of thwarted belongingness and perceived burdensomeness in suicide notes. METHODS: A total of 261 suicide notes from 1091 consecutive completed suicides in Tasmania were rated for the presence of thwarted belongingness and perceived burdensomeness. RESULTS: Contrary to the theory, few suicide notes were found to include perceived burdensomeness (10.3%) and thwarted belongingness (30.7%), and only 4.2% had both themes. The notes of women more often contained the theme of perceived burdensomeness, while the notes of younger suicides more often contained the theme of thwarted belongingness. CONCLUSIONS: Joiner's theory of suicide may apply to only a small percentage of suicides who leave suicide notes.