Lindsey Leenaars

Evolutionary perspective on indirect victimization in adolescence: the role of attractiveness, dating and sexual behavior

We studied indirect victimization from an evolutionary perspective by examining links between this type of victimization and several indicators of attractiveness (past sexual behavior, dating frequency and physical appearance). Two thousand three hundred and nineteen (56% female) students (ages 13-18) from a region of southern Ontario, Canada, completed self-report measures of indirect victimization, physical appearance, dating frequency, recent sexual behavior (number of partners in previous month) and past sexual behavior (number of lifetime partners minus number of partners in previous month) as well as indexes of depression, aggression and attachment security, which were used to control for psychosocial maladjustment. Consistent with an evolutionary framework, physical appearance interacted significantly with gender, wherein attractive females were at greater risk for indirect victimization, whereas for males physical attractiveness was a protective factor, reducing risk of victimization. Physical appearance also interacted with grade, being inversely related to indirect victimization for younger adolescents and having a nonsignificant association with victimization for older youth. Finally, recent sexual behavior was associated with increased risk of indirect victimization for older adolescents only, which we discussed with regard to peer perceptions of promiscuity and short-term mating strategies. These findings have important implications for the development of interventions designed to reduce peer victimization, in that victims of indirect aggression may represent a rather broad, heterogeneous group, including attractive individuals with no obvious signs of maladjustment.

Suicide Notes in India: What Do They Tell Us?

Over 100,000 people commit suicide each year in India; yet, there has been limited micro-based study. This study marks the first study of suicide notes in India. The sample consisted of all available note-writers (n = 50), with a comparative sample of non-note writers (n = 50) of all suicides (n = 320, 16.47% of all postmortems) during a 1½ year period in the New Delhi area, India. Using the demographic (descriptive) schema of Ho, Yip, Chiu, and Halliday (1998), the results show that note writers do not differ greatly from other suicides. Males wrote more notes, but the more intriguing finding is the fact that suicide in India is associated to an array of psychiatric/psychological and social factors.

Male and Female University Students’ Experiences of Indirect Aggression

This study examines the role of sex, gender role orientation, social representations of indirect aggression, and indicators of psychosocial adjustment in indirect aggression and victimization in an emerging adult sample. A total of 42 participants (19 men, 23 women) recruited are required to complete the questionnaires, along with 18 participants out of the total study sample also completing daily journals. No sex differences are found for either indirect aggression or victimization. Indirect victimization is found to be the most significant predictor of indirect aggression. When controlling for indirect aggression, mania is the most significant predictor of indirect victimization. An inductive thematic analysis of the journals is conducted. The results are interpreted in relation to previous research and theory. Limitations, implications, and directions for future research are discussed. Cette étude a examiné l’association entre le genre, les perceptions des rôles sexuelles, et les représentations des comportements d’agression indirecte et les indicateurs d’adaptation psychosociale d’une agression indirecte en relation avec la victimisation chez un échantillon de jeunes adultes. Quarante-deux participants (19 hommes, 23 femmes) ont complété des questionnaires. De ce nombre, 18 ont décrit, sur une base quotidienne, les interactions sociales vécues. Cette étude ne montre aucune différence de genre quand il s’agit d’agression indirecte ou de victimisation. La victimisation indirecte est la meilleure indicatrice d’agression indirecte. Quand l’agression indirecte est contrôlée, la manie a une association significative avec la victimisation indirecte. Une analyse thématique des journaux personnels a été effectuée et interprétées relativement aux recherches et théories antérieures. Nous discutons les limites et les implications de notre étude pour les recherches futures.

Suicide notes from Mexico and the United States: a thematic analysis

OBJECTIVE This study sought to investigate suicide notes drawn from Mexico and the United States (US) as these countries share geographical proximity, but markedly different cultures and suicide rates. MATERIAL AND METHODS A theoretical conceptual analysis of 102 suicide notes drawn from these countries, matched for age and sex, was undertaken based on a thematic model of suicide developed by Leenaars,1,2 across countries. RESULTS The inter-judge reliability was adequate (.86 coefficient of concordance). CONCLUSIONS The results suggested that there are more psychological commonalities than differences. Yet, as this study marks the first one using suicide notes, between Mexico and the USA, much greater study is warranted.

The Impact of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders on Families: Evaluation of a Family Intervention Program

The main purpose of the present study was to conduct a preliminary evaluation of the coaching families (CF) program, which aids families and caregivers raising children with fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD). Mentors in the program work with families to educate them about FASD, access resources, and advocate on their behalf. Retrospective data from 186 families were analyzed from pre- to post-program. As expected, among caregivers there was a significant decrease in needs and increase in goal attainment from pre- to post-program. Further, there was a significant decrease in caregiver stress from pre- to post-program. Families reported high overall satisfaction with the CF program. The limitations, directions for future research, and implications for service providers were also discussed.

Intimate Partner Violence: Are Perpetrators Also Victims and Are They More Likely to Experience Suicide Ideation?

The current study examined the relations among several risk factors—hopelessness, depressive symptoms, perceived burdensomeness, thwarted belongingness, alcohol-related problems, and intimate partner violence (victimization and perpetration)—and suicide ideation, as measured by the Modified Scale for Suicide Ideation, in college students (n = 994). In addition, the overlap between being a victim and perpetrator of various types of intimate partner violence was examined. Results indicated substantial overlap in the victim and perpetrator roles, up to 96.6% for negotiation. In the negative binomial regression analysis, reports of hopelessness, depressive symptoms, perceived burdensomeness, thwarted belongingness, and alcohol-related problems all significantly predicted suicide ideation in the expected direction. However, none of the revised Conflict Tactics Scale subscales predicted suicide ideation above and beyond the established risk factors. Implications are offered for the improved identification and treatment of suicidal thoughts and behaviors among college students.

Indirect Aggression and Victimization are Positively Associated in Emerging Adulthood: The Psychological Functioning of Indirect Aggressors and Victims

A study of 106 undergraduate students found that scores on measures of indirect aggression, both as aggressors and as victims, given to separate respondents, were associated with scores on measures of anger discomfort, silencing the self, and subscales of the Buss and Durkee Hostility Inventory (1957). A second study, of 113 undergraduate students, found that scores on the measures of indirect aggression (as aggressor and as victim, with both scales given to each respondent) were positively associated, indicating that aggressors are often victims. Scores on both measures of indirect aggression were positively associated with scores on measures of silencing the self.

Menstruation and suicide: a histopathological study.

BACKGROUND Previous research, albeit limited, has reported mixed findings on the impact of menstruation cycle on suicidal behavior. The contribution of menstruation to completed suicide is also controversial; the studies are, in fact, very limited and are not carefully designed. AIMS To examine whether the menstruation cycle impacts on suicide. METHODS In order to explore this relationship, 56 autopsies on completed suicides in females were performed and matched to a control group of 44 females who had died from other causes, at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences in New Delhi. Histopathological examination, a method of collecting tissue from the uterus through biopsy, was used to determine the stage of the menstrual cycle. RESULTS The results show that 25% of women who had died by suicide were menstruating at the time, compared to 4.5% of the control group; this is statistically (chi2) significant at the p < .002 level. CONCLUSIONS Menstruation in the women who completed suicide, compared to a control group, appeared to have an association, though more research is warranted. Not only there are serious methodological problems in the study of menstruation and suicide (largely because of problematic tissue storage and examination), but also because of the need to understand the impact within a larger psychological, social, and cultural frame.

Perfectionism, depression, and academic performance

In samples of 30 Canadian and 117 American undergraduates, academic performance was more strongly correlated with perfectionism scores (Revised Almost Perfect Scale) (r = .20 and −.17) than with those on self-reported depression (CES-Depression) (r = −.09).

Suicide in Different Cultures: A Thematic Comparison of Suicide Notes From Turkey and the United States

Suicide is a global concern, hence, cross-cultural research ought to be central; yet, there is a paucity of cross-cultural study in suicidology. A thematic or theoretical-conceptual analysis of 60 suicide notes drawn from Turkey and the United States, matched for age and sex, was undertaken, based on Leenaars’s empirical-based multidimensional model of suicide. The results suggested that there were more culturally common factors than specific differences; yet, not consistent with previous cross-cultural studies of suicide notes, differences emerged in Turkey notes expressing more indirect and veiled communications (indirect expressions). Specifically, Turkish notes expressed that there may be more reasons to the act than the person writes. It was concluded that the model may be applicable to suicide in both countries, but also much greater cross-cultural study is warranted on specific cultural risk factors. A question raised is whether the findings are related to collectivism versus individualism.