Background: Prior studies have shown a strong association between disturbing dreams and suicidal ideation and behaviors, but the pathways connecting them have not been well characterized. The systemic desensitization theory of dreams would suggest that the acquired capability for suicide, specifically the fearlessness about death component, could further explain these pathways. Hypothesis: More intense suicidal ideation will lead to more severe suicidal behaviors through a three-step mediation of more severe nightmares and greater acquired capability for suicide. However only for those with lower levels of anxiety sensitivity will the more severe nightmares lead to greater acquired capability for suicide and suicidal behaviors. Methods: Mediation and moderation regression analysis were completed through secondary analysis of data for two studies, and primary data collection and analysis was done through a third study. 647 participants filled out self-report questionnaires as part of intake data at a southeastern university’s psychology clinic for the first study (mean age 27.4, 62.1% female). 1143 participants from various branches of the military filled out the self-report questionnaires as part of the Military Suicide Research Consortium for the second study (mean age 29.34, 16.6% female). 251 participants were recruited through Amazon MTurk and filled out the self-report questionnaires (mean age 34.0, 38.6% female). Mediation and moderation regression analysis were then completed for a third online study, which tested additional mediators and moderators. Results: The hypotheses were partially supported across the various studies. Within the sample collected for the sake of this project, the effects were the strongest. There was evidence that dreams involving death specifically were related to higher fearlessness about death from suicide, although not higher fearlessness about death more generally. Ruminative thinking patterns moderated this interaction, such that less rumination strengthened the relationship between dreams about death and fearlessness about death from suicide. Limitations: Limitations include the inability to detect causality due to a cross-sectional design, as well as the lack of generalizability to older or suicidal samples. Conclusions: These findings further explain the pathways linking disturbing dreams to suicidal ideation through adding in fearlessness about death and acquired capability with rehearsal for suicide as mediators. They also establish the moderating role of ruminative thinking as an explanatory mechanism between dreams and fearlessness about death. / A Thesis submitted to the Department of Psychology in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science. / Spring Semester 2019. / April 1, 2019. / Includes bibliographical references. / Thomas E. Joiner, Professor Directing Thesis; Jesse R. Cougle, Committee Member; Colleen M. Ganley, Committee Member.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:fsu.edu/oai:fsu.digital.flvc.org:fsu_709822 |
| Contributors | Schneider, Matthew (author), Joiner, Thomas (Professor Directing Thesis), Cougle, Jesse R. (Jesse Ray) (Committee Member), Ganley, Colleen M. (Committee Member), Florida State University (degree granting institution), College of Arts and Sciences (degree granting college), Department of Psychology (degree granting departmentdgg) |
| Publisher | Florida State University |
| Source Sets | Florida State University |
| Language | English, English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Text, text, master thesis |
| Format | 1 online resource (64 pages), computer, application/pdf |
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