Results
All analyses were conducted using SPSS ; all correlations were calculated using Spearman’s ρ to account for non-normal variables (Bishara & Hittner, 2012). Results concerning the scales of the EDE-Q and the scales assessing constructs of the IPTS showed a general pattern of moderate and strong associations between thwarted belongingness (ρ = .27 - .45), perceived burdensomeness (ρ = .33 - .52), and suicidal thoughts/behaviors (ρ = .28 - .38). Fearlessness about death was not correlated with any of the EDE-Q scales. See Table 1 for a list of these correlations. The correlations between the EDE-Q scales and suicide risk (see Table 2) were generally lower (ρ = .19 - .24), but it should be noted that these measures lack shared method variance.
When analyzing the association between specific problematic eating behaviors and suicide risk, feeling as if one has lost control while eating (ρ = .30), number of days one engages in binging (ρ= .32), and purging (ρ = .36) were all moderately correlated with suicide risk. Excessive exercising (ρ = .25) and binging episodes (ρ = .29) were approaching moderate strength, whereas laxative use (ρ = -.04) was not correlated with suicide risk. In terms of correlations between specific problematic eating behaviors and specific suicide risk behaviors, laxative use and excessive exercising generally were not correlated with any suicide risk behaviors, except for believing that one could attempt suicide (laxative use ρ = .17) and suicide intent (excessive exercise ρ = 28). Number of days engaging in binge eating (ρ = .31) and a feeling of loss of control when eating (ρ = .51) had the highest correlations with non-suicidal self-injury, whereas purging had the highest correlations with number of suicide attempts (ρ = .21), suicide intent (ρ = .23), and believing one could attempt suicide (ρ = .23). See Table 3 for a full list of these correlations.