Death Stud. 2025 Nov 7:1-6. doi: 10.1080/07481187.2025.2585931. Online ahead of print.
ABSTRACT
Using a cross-sectional design, this study examined the relationship between childhood trauma and the writing of a suicide note as well as the mediation and moderation effects of psychache (i.e., psychological pain) on this relationship. A non-clinical sample of 1012 young adults aged 17 to 29 years (M = 19.56; SD = 1.94; 3.7% > 25 years) participated. A mediation model was tested using path analysis through structural equation modeling, and a moderation model was tested using hierarchical multiple regression analysis, while statistically controlling for relevant sociodemographic variables. A partial mediating effect of psychological pain was found in the association between childhood trauma and writing a suicide note. Psychache also interacted and potentiated the relationship of childhood trauma with writing a suicide note. As such, psychache assists in explaining why and when individuals who have experienced more traumatic events in childhood are more likely to write suicide notes.
PMID:41204719 | DOI:10.1080/07481187.2025.2585931
