Document Type
Honors Project
Publication Date
6-13-2025
Abstract
Suicide is a leading cause of death among adolescents. Most screenings rely on subjective self-report to determine risk; yet many who die by suicide have denied the experience of suicidality before their death. This paradox presents an urgent need for objective measures of suicide risk to aid in prevention and early intervention. The utility of the Death Implicit Association Test, an objective measure of suicide risk, has not yet been investigated in universal settings. As a first step, we tested whether adding the D-IAT presented iatrogenic effects and whether any order effects should be considered when adding the D-IAT to a universal screening tool. After parental consent and assent, participants (N = 55; 79% White; Mage = 14.21, SD 1.66) completed assessments including the D-IAT, a self-report screening tool for psychopathology, and a brief clinical interview. We administered measures of state emotion before and after participants completed the D-IAT to assess potential iatrogenic effects on mood, and we counterbalanced the order of D-IAT administration. This study lays the initial groundwork for prioritizing evidence-based self-report and objective measures to provide early intervention and potentially save lives.
Level of Honors
magna cum laude
Department
Psychology
Advisor
Lori M. Hilt
Recommended Citation
Mujkanovic, Savannah, "Adolescent Universal Mental Health Screening Innovations: The Utility of Measuring Implicit Suicide Risk" (2025). Lawrence University Honors Projects. 213.
https://lux.lawrence.edu/luhp/213