Suicidal Risk Following the Termination of Romantic Relationships

Love, Heather A. ; Nalbone, David P. ; Hecker, Lorna L. ; Sweeney, Kathryn A. ; Dharnidharka, Prerana (2018) — Crisis
Synopsis

The study is framed by the notion that ending a romantic relationship can be a predictor of suicide attempts, with attachment perspectives suggesting that the experience of breakup may feel overwhelming to individuals who were highly connected to their partner. It asks whether markers of risk for suicidal behavior are tied to how committed a person was to the relationship before its dissolution. The investigation focuses on adults in the United States, ages 18 to 64, who had recently experienced a significant breakup within the prior three months, totaling 208 participants. The researchers employed a structural equation modeling approach to test whether levels of commitment and investment relate to suicidal risk, and whether these links operate through depressive symptoms. Results revealed a meaningful connection between prior commitment to the romantic relationship and suicidal risk, with depression serving as the mediating factor. In other words, strong commitment to a former partner was not directly predictive of suicidal risk; rather, its influence emerged indirectly through depressive states. This pattern points to the possibility that higher attachment to a past relationship can contribute to subsequent depressive symptoms, which in turn may elevate the likelihood of suicide-related risk following a breakup. The finding highlights a potential area of focus for screening and support in the period immediately after a relationship ends, as individuals with high prior commitment may be especially vulnerable when depressive processes are activated. The study acknowledges several limitations that temper interpretation. The cross-sectional design restricts the ability to draw causal inferences, and retrospective reporting about the prior relationship may introduce memory biases. Despite these constraints, the results suggest that elevated commitment to a romantic relationship may function as a risk factor for depression, which can contribute to suicide risk in the aftermath of relationship termination. Taken together, the findings advocate for attention to individuals who have recently undergone a break-up, particularly those who held strong commitment to the dissolved relationship, as part of efforts to identify and address emerging depressive and related suicide risk signals.
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