Negative Emotion Regulation Self-Efficacy Moderates the Association Between PTSD Symptom Severity and Suicidal Thoughts and Behaviors in a Trauma-Exposed Community Sample of Adults.

Abstract

Individuals who experience symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are more likely to experience suicidal thoughts and behaviors (STB). However, additional research is needed to clarify for whom the relationship between PTSD symptoms and STB is the strongest. Considering that both PTSD and STB are characterized by difficulties with emotion regulation, one construct worth exploring in this regard is emotion regulation self-efficacy (ERSE), or one's beliefs in their ability to regulate negative emotions. Thus, the current study sought to explore the role of ERSE in the association between PTSD symptoms and STB. Using Amazon's Mechanical Turk, participants (N = 227; M_age = 39.91, 65.2% assigned female sex at birth) completed self-report measures of PTSD symptoms, ERSE, and STB. Controlling for depression, results revealed a significant interaction between PTSD and ERSE in relation to STB. Simple slopes analyses revealed a significant positive association between PTSD symptom severity and STB among individuals with low or moderate, but not high, self-efficacy for managing negative emotions. Results highlight the relevance of ERSE in understanding STB among individuals experiencing PTSD symptoms.