Military Personnel Compared to Multiple Suicide Attempters: Interpersonal Theory of Suicide Constructs

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

7-6-2017

Department

Psychology

Abstract

The current study aimed to address the discrepancy between suicide rates in the military and general population by comparing facets of the interpersonal theory of suicide between civilians with multiple suicide attempts and U.S. military personnel. Military personnel exhibited higher levels of capability for suicide but lower levels of perceived burdensomeness and thwarted belongingness than civilian multiple attempters. When comparing only personnel endorsing ideation and civilian multiple attempters, the significant difference for capability remained, but the differences for perceived burdensomeness and thwarted belongingness became nonsignificant. Results suggest the emergence of ideation places personnel at a greater risk for suicide than many civilian multiple attempters.

Publication Title

Death Studies

Volume

42

Issue

2

First Page

123

Last Page

129

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