Abstract
In this chapter we present evidence that a zestful life, characterized by active engagement with life accompanied by a positive outlook and free from recent depletions of enthusiasm and vigor for life, may be an important antidote to factors thought to proximally and causally antecede suicide. Specifically, we test the mediating and moderating role of zest for life against the deleterious impacts of the three causal factors proposed by the interpersonal theory (i.e., thwarted belongingness, perceived burdensomeness, acquired capability for suicide) using a prospective design. We show that erosion in zest for life amplifies the adverse effects of these causal factors, but undiminished and strong zest confers protection. We conclude that while it is critically important to understand why people die by suicide, we must not neglect to examine why people do not die by suicide, which is the most likely outcome even in the presence of frequent suicidal thoughts and behaviors.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Title of host publication | Alternatives to Suicide |
| Subtitle of host publication | Beyond Risk and Toward a Life Worth Living |
| Editors | Andrew Page, Werner Stritzke |
| Place of Publication | London |
| Publisher | Academic Press |
| Chapter | 3 |
| Pages | 45-68 |
| Number of pages | 24 |
| ISBN (Electronic) | 9780128142981 |
| ISBN (Print) | 9780128142974 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 27 Jan 2020 |
