Social support moderates the relationship between interpersonal trauma and suicidal behaviors among college students

Objectives: Interpersonal trauma (IPT) and low social support are risk factors for suicidal behavior. The aim of the current study was to investigate social support as moderating the relationship between IPT and suicidal behavior among college students. Participants A racially diverse sample of 350 undergraduate students was utilized. Methods Participants completed online, self-report questionnaires on lifetime traumatic experiences, suicidal behaviors, and perceived social support. Results The experience of IPT was significantly associated with suicidal behavior (r(s) =.29, p < .001), and social support significantly moderated this relationship, F(3, 343) = 36.85, p < .001, Delta R-2 = .02, p = .008. IPT survivors with greater levels of perceived social support reported less suicidal behavior compared to IPT survivors with low levels of perceived social support. Conclusions Suicide prevention efforts may be improved through the development of trauma-focused interventions devised to enhance perceptions of social support among college students experiencing IPT.