According to Joiner's interpersonal theory of suicide, why might unemployment, divorce, and widowhood increase suicide potential?

• A. They increase impulsivity
• B. They result in a diminished sense of belongingness and a self-perception of being a burden to others
• C. They cause financial ruin
• D. They trigger anhedonia

Answer: (B)

In Joiner’s interpersonal theory of suicide, the risk of suicide rises when a person experiences thwarted belongingness and perceived burdensomeness. Unemployment, divorce, and widowhood can erode social connections and intimate bonds, leading to loneliness and a sense of isolation (thwarted belongingness). They can also foster the belief that one is a burden to others—through financial strain, loss of contribution or dependence on loved ones (perceived burdensomeness). When both experiences are present, the desire for death can grow, especially if the person also has a heightened capability for self-harm. While financial hardship or anhedonia might accompany these events, the mechanism these life changes illustrate is the combination of diminished belonging and increased burdensomeness.