Abstract

The Interpersonal-Psychological Theory of Suicide (IPTS) posits that suicide ideation is not correlated with fearlessness about death. However, there has been an increasing number of studies reporting a positive correlation between these two variables. To investigate this discrepancy, anxiety was examined as a potential moderator of the relationship between suicide ideation and fearlessness about death, as exposure effects may vary depending on the level of anxiety. This study included 300 adults, and suicide ideation, fearlessness about death, and anxiety were measured. The moderating effect of anxiety on the relationship between suicide ideation and fearlessness about death was tested using regression analysis, slope analysis, and the Johnson-Neyman technique. The results confirmed that anxiety moderates the relationship between suicide ideation and fearlessness about death. Specifically, it was found that when anxiety levels are high, the positive correlation between suicide ideation and fearlessness about death increases. These findings suggest that the extent to which the experience of suicide ideation reduces fear of death may vary depending on the level of anxiety. Theoretical explanations for the relationship between suicide ideation and fearlessness about death should therefore be reconsidered and retested.