Social desirability: its relevance to the measurement of hopelessness and suicidal behavior

Individual differences in social desirability are associated with white-matter microstructure of the external capsule

Humans tend to present themselves in a positive light to gain social approval. This behavioral trait, termed social desirability, is important for various types of social success. Surprisingly, investigation into the neural underpinnings of social desirability has been limited and focused only on interindividual differences in dopamine receptor binding. These studies revealed reduced dopamine receptor binding in the striatum of individuals who are high in trait social desirability. Interestingly, high dopamine signaling has been associated with low white-matter integrity, irrespective of social desirability. Based on these findings, we hypothesized that a positive association exists between trait social desirability and the white-matter microstructure of the external capsule, which carries fibers to the striatum from the prefrontal cortex. To test this hypothesis, we collected diffusion tensor imaging data and examined the relationship between fractional anisotropy of the external capsule and participants' social desirability-our analysis revealed a positive association. As a second exploratory step, we examined the association between social desirability and white-matter microstructure throughout the whole brain. Our whole-brain analysis revealed associations within multiple major white-matter tracts, demonstrating that socially desirable behavior relies on connectivity between distributed brain regions.

The relationship between dispositional mindfulness, borderline personality features, and suicidal ideation in a sample of women in residential substance use treatment

Borderline personality disorder (BPD), which is characterized by unstable moods, behavior, and relationships, is also associated with heightened suicidal ideation. Prior research has demonstrated that BPD and suicidal ideation are prevalent among women in substance use treatment. Efforts to treat substance use in this population are made difficult due to the severity of BPD, and it is possible that mindfulness-based interventions specific to substance use could be an effective approach for this population. However, basic research is needed on the relationship between dispositional mindfulness, BPD, and suicidal ideation among women in treatment for substance use to support their associations, which was the purpose of the present study. Pre-existing medical records were reviewed from a residential substance use treatment center. A total of 81 female patients were included in the current study. Patients completed self-report measures of mindfulness, BPD, suicidal ideation, substance use, and impression management at treatment intake. Findings demonstrated dispositional mindfulness to be negatively associated with BPD features and suicidal ideation. With the exception of self-harm, this negative relationship was found even after controlling for age, substance use, and impression management. Future research should examine whether mindfulness-based interventions are an effective treatment for comorbid substance use and BPD.

Suicide ideation and social desirability among school-aged young people

A mixed male-female sample of 950 school-aged adolescents, corresponding to 10% of the young population aged 15-19 living in a rural district of Northeast Italy, was investigated with self-reported questionnaires about the links between social desirability and suicide ideation. On the whole 30.6% of females and 23.9% of males reported suicidal ideation of some degree, with 5% in both genders reporting suicide ideation of a high degree (i.e. quite a lot/extremely often). Those who scored higher at the Marlowe-Crowne Social Desirability Scale (SDS) reported lower levels of psychiatric symptoms on the Symptom checklist 90R (SCL-90R), with the "denial" subscale of the SDS resulting specifically associated to lower scores on SCL-90R items measuring hopelessness, thoughts about death and suicide ideation. The personality traits measured by the Marlowe-Crowne SDS, such as defensiveness, denial and self-deception, might be conceived as a protection against psychiatric disorders and suicide ideation.

Factors associated with hopelessness: a population study

BACKGROUND

Hopelessness is associated with depression and suicidality in clinical as well as in non-clinical populations. However, data on the prevalence of hopelessness and the associated factors in general population are exiguous.

AIMS

To assess the prevalence and the associated factors of hopelessness in a general population sample.

METHODS

The random population sample consisted of 1722 subjects. The study questionnaires included the Beck Hopelessness Scale (HS), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20) and Life Satisfaction Scale (LS).

RESULTS

Eleven percent of the subjects reported at least moderate hopelessness. A poor financial situation (OR 3.64), poor subjective health (OR 2.87) and reduced working ability (OR 2.67) independently associated with hopelessness. Moreover, the likelihood of moderate or severe hopelessness was significantly increased in subjects dissatisfied with life (OR 5.99), with depression (OR 4.86), with alexithymia (OR 2.37) and with suicidal ideation (OR 1.85).

CONCLUSIONS

This study demonstrated a moderately high prevalence of hopelessness at the population level. Hopelessness appears to be an important indicator of low subjective well-being in the general population that health care personnel should pay attention to.

The reasons for living inventory and a college population: adolescent suicidal behaviors, beliefs, and coping skills

The suicidal behavior of a college population (N = 205) was assessed. Individuals were categorized into four groups: never suicidal, brief suicidal ideation, serious suicidal ideation, and parasuicidal. They also answered questions about why they would not choose suicide, on the Reasons For Living (RFL) Inventory. Depression, hopelessness, and social desirability scales also were presented. A significant difference existed between suicidal and nonsuicidal individuals on the RFL. Hopelessness and depression were found to be correlated significantly with suicidal behavior; social desirability was found to be high among those who were not suicidal and declined as suicidal behaviors became more severe.

The relationship between the Marlowe-Crowne Form C and the validity scales of the MMPI

The study examined the construct-related validity of a 13-item short form of the Marlowe-Crowne Social Desirability Scale advanced by Reynolds (1982), using the validity scales of the MMPI. With a sample of 481 Basic Military Trainees, the short form of the Marlowe-Crowne replicated the correlations between the standard Marlowe-Crowne and the MMPI validity scales initially reported by Crowne and Marlowe (1960). The results further support the short form of the Marlow-Crowne Social Desirability Scale as an economical measure of social desirability.

An MMPI scale to predict premature termination from inpatient alcohol treatment

This study developed an MMPI scale to predict premature termination of patients from inpatient alcohol programming. MMPI responses of 93 male veterans hospitalized in a 4-week alcohol treatment program were item analyzed, and 21 items that differentiated Completers from Dropouts were selected. A classification accuracy rate of 91.36% was achieved in the standardization sample using a cut-off score of 8 and comparing only valid profiles. Classificatory accuracy of a cross validation sample (N = 90) was somewhat lower (75.34%). Face validity was absent, an indication of the scale's subtlety, and an analysis of scale items' Social Desirability Scale Values indicated that social desirability did not appear to influence item endorsement. Consistent differences between Completers and Dropouts were noted on Scales F and Sc, but not over other MMPI clinical scales, age, and race. Methodological issues and the use of the scale in alcohol treatment programming also were discussed.

The Hopelessness Scale and social desirability: more data and a contribution from the irrational beliefs test

This paper presents findings with regard to social desirability confounding on Beck's Hopelessness Scale (Beck, Weissman, Lester, & Trexler, 1974). Data from 60 suicidal and nonsuicidal psychiatric inpatients were examined in terms of the correlations between hopelessness scores and suicidality. Controlling for social desirability, as measured by the Marlowe-Crowne Scale (Crowne & Marlowe, 1964), did not affect this correlation substantially, nor did use of SD scores in a discriminant analysis improve accuracy of classification into severely suicidal and nonsuicidal groups. These results are in contrast with similar studies (e.g., Linehan & Nielsen, 1981) that used the Edwards SD scale. However, regression analysis of the MCSD scale using subscales of the Irrational Beliefs Test (Jones, 1969) raises the question as to whether the MCSD scale indeed is measuring SD, as opposed to some aspect or aspects of psychological adjustment.