(PS9-B45) Experiencing Significance Is the Part of Meaning-in-life That Most Protects Against Suicide Risk: A Psychometrically Informed Examination

Meaning-in-life (MIL) is postulated as a protective factor against suicide risk and plays a key role in prominent models of psychotherapy (e.g., DBT, ACT, Motivational Interviewing). However different conceptualizations and domains of MIL have been proposed and thus the aspects of MIL that are most protective against suicide risk are unclear. A tripartite structure of MIL – Coherence, Purpose, and Significance – has recently garnered theoretical and empirical support, but comparisons with alternative structures have been limited. This study had two aims: 1) to gain psychometric clarity on the structure and dimensions of MIL, and 2) to identify the dimensions of MIL most strongly linked to suicidal desire. First, we conducted three sets of analyses in a large (N = 1913) and ethnically diverse sample of undergraduate students enrolled in psychology courses at the University of British Columbia: a) a confirmatory factor analysis to evaluate the validity of the tripartite structure, b) exploratory factor analyses in half the sample to evaluate possible alternative structures, and c) additional confirmatory factor analyses in the second half of the sample to evaluate the validity of promising alternative structures. Structures containing between three and six dimensions of MIL were supported, including but not limited to the dimensions specified in the tripartite structure. Second, in the full sample, we examined the relationship of MIL dimensions to suicidal desire using both zero-order and partial correlations. Notably, across all MIL structures, Significance (but not Coherence, Purpose, or other dimensions) maintained unique and moderately strong associations with suicidal desire. Results have implications for refining theoretical models of suicide and have the potential to inform psychotherapy for suicide risk.