Psychological flexibility and experiential avoidance as moderators of the relationship between entrapment and suicidal ideation among LBGTQ+ individuals in UK and US

Objective
The Integrated Motivational Volitional (IMV) model of suicidal behavior posits that progression to action happens through a pathway where experiences of defeat and a sense of entrapment are central in the development of suicidal ideation. This progression is moderated by individual and contextual variables that may be important to consider in efforts to prevent suicide. One such moderator is psychological flexibility, which can support adaptive behavior even when faced with adversity. It is important to extend IMV research to include more diverse samples, including LGBTQ+ individuals, who experience worse defeat and entrapment than cisgender peers.

Method
The current cross-national study examined specific processes of psychological flexibility (openness to experience, behavioral awareness and valued action) and psychological inflexibility (experiential avoidance) as potential moderators for the relationship between internal and external entrapment and suicidal ideation among 771 LGBTQ+ individuals in US and UK.

Results
The domains of psychological flexibility and inflexibility were associated with levels of internal and external entrapment and suicidal ideation. However, a moderation effect for the relationship between entrapment and ideation was only found for experiential avoidance and valued action and only in the US sample.

Conclusions
The results suggest psychological inflexibility may contribute to the development of suicidal ideation among LGBTQ+ individuals. However, the mechanism through which inflexibility affects progression through the IMV pathway may differ across cultural, societal or political contexts.