Integrated Motivational-Volitional Model: A Structural Equation Modeling Modeling with Interaction of Latent Variables

Background: The integrated motivational-volitional (IMV) model is the second theory based on the ideation-to-action framework. Objectives: The current study aimed to investigate the motivational phase of this model in the Iranian population. In this study, threat-to-self moderators included cognitive emotion regulation strategies and thwarted belongingness and perceived burdensomeness as motivational moderators. Materials and Methods: A total of 405 participants (68.6% female; mean age: 22.7 years) filled out several self-report questionnaires, including the Defeat Scale, Entrapment Scale, Beck Scale for Suicidal Ideation, Cognitive Emotion Regulation Questionnaire-short, Interpersonal Needs Questionnaire-15. In order to assess the IMV model, structural equation modeling with the interaction of latent variables was performed. Results: The results indicated that the overall model’s fit was poor. Although the model explained 70% and 61% of the variance in entrapment and suicidal ideation, respectively, the pathway between entrapment and suicidal ideation was not statistically significant. The findings demonstrated that the most effective predictors of suicidal ideation were perceived burdensomeness and thwarted belongingness. Conclusions: The results add to our knowledge of what constructs are more critical in the emergence of suicidal ideation. It is hoped that the study findings will lead to a greater interest in this field of research in the future.