Love and suicide: the structure of the Affective Intensity Rating Scale (AIRS) and its relation to suicidal behavior.
BACKGROUND: Suicide has been linked to intense negative affect. However, little is known about the range of affects experienced by suicidal persons, or the separate effects of affect valence and intensity. We examine a novel self-report scale, the 17-item Affective Intensity Rating Scale (AIRS), and...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Public Library of Science (PLoS)
2012-01-01
|
| Series: | PLoS ONE |
| Online Access: | http://europepmc.org/articles/PMC3430651?pdf=render |
| _version_ | 1819044684746457088 |
|---|---|
| author | Zimri S Yaseen Karin Fisher Esperanza Morales Igor I Galynker |
| author_facet | Zimri S Yaseen Karin Fisher Esperanza Morales Igor I Galynker |
| author_sort | Zimri S Yaseen |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | BACKGROUND: Suicide has been linked to intense negative affect. However, little is known about the range of affects experienced by suicidal persons, or the separate effects of affect valence and intensity. We examine a novel self-report scale, the 17-item Affective Intensity Rating Scale (AIRS), and its relation to suicidality in a high-risk sample. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: Patients presenting with suicidality were recruited from the Emergency Department in a large urban hospital, and completed a battery of assessments there. Structure of the AIRS was assessed using Maximum Likelihood Factor Analysis with Oblimin rotation. Convergent and divergent validity were assessed by regressing AIRS subscales against Brief Symptom Inventory subscales. Relation to suicidality was assessed by regression of suicide attempt status against scale and subscale scores, and individual items and two-way item interactions, along with significant clinical and demographic factors. 176 subjects were included in analyses. Three reliable subscales were identified within the AIRS measure: positive feelings towards self, negative feelings towards self, and negative feelings towards other. Only individual AIRS items associated significantly with suicide attempt status; strong 'feelings of love' associated positively with actual suicide attempt, while 'feelings of calm' and 'positive feelings towards self' associated negatively. Interaction analyses suggest 'calm' moderates the association of 'love' with suicide attempt. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: Factor analysis of the AIRS is consistent with a circumplex model of affect. Affective dimensions did not predict suicidal behavior, but intense feelings of love, particularly in the absence of protective feelings of calm or positive self-view associated with current attempt. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-21T10:16:36Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-ddb0eace975f432c89e613425ea60c90 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1932-6203 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-21T10:16:36Z |
| publishDate | 2012-01-01 |
| publisher | Public Library of Science (PLoS) |
| record_format | Article |
| series | PLoS ONE |
| spelling | doaj.art-ddb0eace975f432c89e613425ea60c902022-12-21T19:07:35ZengPublic Library of Science (PLoS)PLoS ONE1932-62032012-01-0178e4406910.1371/journal.pone.0044069Love and suicide: the structure of the Affective Intensity Rating Scale (AIRS) and its relation to suicidal behavior.Zimri S YaseenKarin FisherEsperanza MoralesIgor I GalynkerBACKGROUND: Suicide has been linked to intense negative affect. However, little is known about the range of affects experienced by suicidal persons, or the separate effects of affect valence and intensity. We examine a novel self-report scale, the 17-item Affective Intensity Rating Scale (AIRS), and its relation to suicidality in a high-risk sample. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: Patients presenting with suicidality were recruited from the Emergency Department in a large urban hospital, and completed a battery of assessments there. Structure of the AIRS was assessed using Maximum Likelihood Factor Analysis with Oblimin rotation. Convergent and divergent validity were assessed by regressing AIRS subscales against Brief Symptom Inventory subscales. Relation to suicidality was assessed by regression of suicide attempt status against scale and subscale scores, and individual items and two-way item interactions, along with significant clinical and demographic factors. 176 subjects were included in analyses. Three reliable subscales were identified within the AIRS measure: positive feelings towards self, negative feelings towards self, and negative feelings towards other. Only individual AIRS items associated significantly with suicide attempt status; strong 'feelings of love' associated positively with actual suicide attempt, while 'feelings of calm' and 'positive feelings towards self' associated negatively. Interaction analyses suggest 'calm' moderates the association of 'love' with suicide attempt. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: Factor analysis of the AIRS is consistent with a circumplex model of affect. Affective dimensions did not predict suicidal behavior, but intense feelings of love, particularly in the absence of protective feelings of calm or positive self-view associated with current attempt.http://europepmc.org/articles/PMC3430651?pdf=render |
| spellingShingle | Zimri S Yaseen Karin Fisher Esperanza Morales Igor I Galynker Love and suicide: the structure of the Affective Intensity Rating Scale (AIRS) and its relation to suicidal behavior. PLoS ONE |
| title | Love and suicide: the structure of the Affective Intensity Rating Scale (AIRS) and its relation to suicidal behavior. |
| title_full | Love and suicide: the structure of the Affective Intensity Rating Scale (AIRS) and its relation to suicidal behavior. |
| title_fullStr | Love and suicide: the structure of the Affective Intensity Rating Scale (AIRS) and its relation to suicidal behavior. |
| title_full_unstemmed | Love and suicide: the structure of the Affective Intensity Rating Scale (AIRS) and its relation to suicidal behavior. |
| title_short | Love and suicide: the structure of the Affective Intensity Rating Scale (AIRS) and its relation to suicidal behavior. |
| title_sort | love and suicide the structure of the affective intensity rating scale airs and its relation to suicidal behavior |
| url | http://europepmc.org/articles/PMC3430651?pdf=render |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT zimrisyaseen loveandsuicidethestructureoftheaffectiveintensityratingscaleairsanditsrelationtosuicidalbehavior AT karinfisher loveandsuicidethestructureoftheaffectiveintensityratingscaleairsanditsrelationtosuicidalbehavior AT esperanzamorales loveandsuicidethestructureoftheaffectiveintensityratingscaleairsanditsrelationtosuicidalbehavior AT igorigalynker loveandsuicidethestructureoftheaffectiveintensityratingscaleairsanditsrelationtosuicidalbehavior |