Hi! My name is Claudia Frankfurth and I am a rising senior at the University of Pittsburgh. I am a psychology and economics major with a minor in law, criminal justice, and society. This summer, with the help of the Brackenridge Fellowship and my faculty mentor, Dr. Sarah Brown, I will be continuing my research on personality, relationship quality, and suicide risk. I am super excited to be conducting independent research this summer!

I have been working with my mentor, Dr. Sarah Brown, in the Personality, Affect, Interactions, and Risk for Suicide lab for the past 2 years. As a research assistant, I have learned a lot about collecting and quality-checking physiological, behavioral, interview, and self-report data. Also, I have learned how to set up and monitor neurophysiological data like EEG, ECG, and EDA. With the help of everything I have learned and observed as a research assistant, I developed my research question. Here’s a picture of me in the lab with an EEG cap!

My research specifically focuses on the impact of trait negative affectivity on suicidal ideation through the quality of interactions in romantic relationships. Trait negative affectivity is characterized by anxiousness, emotional lability, hostility, perseveration, separation insecurity, and submissiveness. This trait has been significantly associated with greater suicidal ideation and a history of high-lethality suicide attempts. However, the potential mechanisms or factors underlying or impacting this association remain unclear. One possible factor that may explain higher suicidal ideation among individuals with higher negative affectivity, is relationship quality and stressors. Negative affectivity is positively associated with relationship dissatisfaction and there is strong evidence to suggest that poor relationship quality and relationship stressors are associated with elevated risk for suicidal ideation and suicidal behaviors. So, the purpose of this study is to address this gap in the literature by examining how high negative affectivity and the quality of romantic relationships influence the risk for suicidal ideation. My preliminary hypothesis is that the association between greater trait negative affectivity and higher suicide ideation intensity among young adults will be greater with more low-quality interactions in romantic relationships.

After my undergraduate education, I plan on going to graduate school for clinical psychology. The Brackenridge Fellowship will provide me a unique opportunity to devote my time this summer toward developing the necessary skills and experience that will prepare me for graduate school and set me apart as a candidate for a Clinical Psychology PhD program. Specifically, I will gain proficiency in developing a strong understanding of current literature on personality psychology and suicide risk, conducting regression-based analyses, preparing a manuscript for submission to a peer-reviewed journal, and presenting my research at a national conference. This is an exciting opportunity for me to pursue my own independent research ideas whilst developing strong collaboration with other students and researchers, which will allow me to develop a professional network that will be critical throughout graduate school and my career. I am super grateful and excited to be a part of Brackenridge this summer! Thank you!