The Role of Self-Control and Interpersonal Sensitivity in Mood Swings in Suicide Survivors

This study aimed to investigate the role of self-control and interpersonal sensitivity in predicting mood swings among individuals with a history of suicide. Understanding these factors can help in developing better preventive and therapeutic interventions for this population. 

Methods and Materials: 

The study employed a cross-sectional design with a sample of 218 participants from Tehran, selected based on the Morgan and Krejcie table. Data were collected using standardized scales for mood swings, self-control, and interpersonal sensitivity. Pearson correlation was used to examine the relationships between the variables, and linear regression analysis was conducted to assess the predictive power of self-control and interpersonal sensitivity on mood swings. Data analysis was performed using SPSS version 27. 

Descriptive statistics revealed mean scores of 28.34 (SD = 6.12) for mood swings, 75.89 (SD = 8.47) for self-control, and 63.23 (SD = 7.98) for interpersonal sensitivity. Pearson correlation analysis showed a significant negative correlation between self-control and mood swings (r = -0.42, p < 0.01) and a significant positive correlation between interpersonal sensitivity and mood swings (r = 0.36, p < 0.01). The regression analysis indicated that both self-control (B = -0.29, p < 0.001) and interpersonal sensitivity (B = 0.22, p < 0.001) were significant predictors of mood swings, explaining 26% of the variance (R² = 0.26). 

The findings suggest that lower self-control and higher interpersonal sensitivity are associated with increased mood swings in individuals with a history of suicide. These results underscore the importance of enhancing self-control and managing interpersonal sensitivity in therapeutic interventions to reduce mood swings and potentially prevent suicidal behaviours in this population.