Designing a Model of Suicidal Beliefs Based on Emotional Expressivity with the Mediating Role of Fear of Negative Evaluation in Individuals with Gender Dysphoria
Keywords:
emotional expression, fear of negative evaluation, gender dysphoria, suicidal ideationsAbstract
Individuals with gender dysphoria report higher levels of harmful thoughts and beliefs compared to the general population. This highlights the importance of identifying factors that increase this group’s vulnerability to suicidal thoughts and beliefs. The present study aimed to investigate the mediating effect of fear of negative evaluation in the relationship between emotional expressivity and suicidal beliefs in individuals with gender dysphoria. This study employed a correlational design and structural equation modeling. The study population consisted of all men and women with gender dysphoria in Tehran from March to September 2024. Of these, 267 individuals were selected as the sample using convenience sampling and based on the research criteria. Data collection instruments included the Beck Suicide Ideation Scale (Beck et al., 1988), the Emotional Expressivity Questionnaire (King & Emmons, 1990), and the Fear of Negative Evaluation Scale (Leary, 1983). Data analysis was conducted using SPSS and AMOS software through structural equation modeling. The results showed that the direct effect of emotional expressivity on suicidal beliefs and fear of negative evaluation was significantly negative (p < .001). The direct path from fear of negative evaluation to suicidal beliefs was significantly positive (p < .001). Examination of the indirect coefficients indicated that fear of negative evaluation played a mediating role in the relationship between emotional expressivity and suicidal beliefs (p < .001). Overall, the findings of this study indicate that emotional expressivity, through the mediating role of fear of negative evaluation, affects suicidal beliefs in individuals with gender dysphoria.
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Copyright (c) 2025 Behnush Nikkhah (Author); Mohammad Mehdi Jahangiri (Corresponding Author); Davood Taghvaei (Author)
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