Communication on familial suicide: development of the Family Communication on Suicide Questionnaire
Creators: name: Radde, Sonja
name: Gutwinski, Stefan
name: Harris, Keith
name: Schouler-Ocak, Meryam
name: Bermpohl, Felix
name: Schnabel, Konrad
name: Stuke, Frauke
name: Henssler, Jonathan
Publisher: name: Taylor & Francis
Year: 2024
Subjects: subject: Sociology
subject: FOS: Sociology
subject: Science Policy

description: <b>Introduction:</b> Each suicide affects about five close family members, potentially heightening risk for psychopathology and suicide. Communication style is a key factor in mental health and psychosocial wellbeing of families. Family communication after suicide, however, is insufficiently conceptualised and studied. This study aimed to identify different factors of familial communication after suicide of a relative and to develop a questionnaire assessing the functionality of familial communications following the suicide of a family member. <b>Method:</b> Through literature review, categories for the functionality of family communication after a familial suicide were developed. Items assessing family communication strategies were formulated and reviewed for comprehensibility and classification. Based on this review, the FCSQ (Family Communication on Suicide Questionnaire) was then tested in a multistep exploratory factor analysis on a cohort of suicide-bereaved relatives, utilising principal axis factor extraction. Construct validity of the FCSQ was assessed through correlation analysis and internal consistency via coefficient alpha. <b>Results:</b> Fifty-nine participants were enrolled in the study. Psychometric analyses indicated that family communication after a suicide can be divided into three factors, Honest and Emotional, Derogatory, and Stigmatising. Honest and Emotional formed functional communications, while Derogatory and Stigmatising communications formed two dysfunctional dimensions. <b>Conclusions:</b> The FCSQ is a first-of-a-kind questionnaire to assess functionality of family communications after suicide. Factor analysis indicated good factor structure and internal consistency, especially regarding functional communication patterns, while the Derogatory factor requires further analysis. This questionnaire has the potential to fill a crucial gap in clinical and research practice and can help to identify families and family members at risk after the experience of a family suicide. This research uncovers distinct factors influencing familial communication following a suicide, highlighting the complexities of post-suicide interactions within families.The study introduces the Family Communication on Suicide Questionnaire (FCSQ), a novel tool designed to assess the functionality of family communications in the aftermath of a suicide, providing a structured approach for evaluating communication patterns.Findings reveal three key dimensions of family communication after suicide – Honest and Emotional, Derogatory, and Stigmatising – highlighting the importance of fostering supportive and open communication to mitigate psychosocial risks for bereaved families. This research uncovers distinct factors influencing familial communication following a suicide, highlighting the complexities of post-suicide interactions within families. The study introduces the Family Communication on Suicide Questionnaire (FCSQ), a novel tool designed to assess the functionality of family communications in the aftermath of a suicide, providing a structured approach for evaluating communication patterns. Findings reveal three key dimensions of family communication after suicide – Honest and Emotional, Derogatory, and Stigmatising – highlighting the importance of fostering supportive and open communication to mitigate psychosocial risks for bereaved families.