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Improving Health-Related Quality of Life and Reducing Suicide in Primary Care: Can Social Problem–Solving Abilities Help?

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Abstract

Problem-solving deficits and poor health–related quality of life are associated with suicide risk; yet, little is known about the interrelations between these variables. In 220 primary care patients, we examined the potential mediating role of physical and mental health–related quality of life on the relation between social problem–solving ability and suicidal behavior. Participants completed the Suicidal Behaviors Questionnaire-Revised, Social Problem Solving Inventory-Revised, and Short-Form 36 Health Survey. Utilizing bootstrapped mediation, our hypotheses were partially supported; mediating effects were found for mental health–related quality of life on the relation between social problem-solving and suicidal behavior. Physical health–related quality of life was not a significant mediator. Greater social problem–solving ability is associated with better mental health–related quality of life and, in turn, to less suicidal behavior. Interventions promoting social problem–solving ability may increase quality of life and reduce suicide risk in primary care patients.

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Correspondence to Jameson K. Hirsch.

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The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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All procedures performed in the current study were approved by our University Institutional Review Board and are in accordance with the ethical standards of the 1964 Helsinki Declaration and its later amendments.

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Informed consent was obtained from all individual participants included in the study.

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Walker, K.L., Kaniuka, A., Sirois, F.M. et al. Improving Health-Related Quality of Life and Reducing Suicide in Primary Care: Can Social Problem–Solving Abilities Help?. Int J Ment Health Addiction 17, 295–309 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11469-018-0019-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11469-018-0019-1

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