Response surface modeling of how love mitigates the association between a need to belong and suicidality

Research indicates that discrepancies between a need to belong and relationship satisfaction relate to negative well-being (i.e., loneliness, depression, low self-esteem) in adolescents. We extend these findings to adults and to more intense forms of relationship satisfaction (i.e., love-mattering) and negative well-being (i.e., suicidality). Belongingness needs did not relate to suicidality, but discrepancies between high belongingness needs and low love associated with greater suicidality. For those with a high need to belong, love-mattering may potentially mitigate the link between a need to belong and suicidality.