Premium
Suicidal or Self‐Harming Ideation in Military Personnel Transitioning to Civilian Life
Author(s) -
Mansfield Alyssa J.,
Bender Randall H.,
Hourani Laurel L.,
Larson Gerald E.
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
suicide and life‐threatening behavior
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.544
H-Index - 90
eISSN - 1943-278X
pISSN - 0363-0234
DOI - 10.1111/j.1943-278x.2011.00039.x
Subject(s) - suicidal ideation , psychology , military personnel , forensic engineering , suicide prevention , medical emergency , poison control , engineering , political science , medicine , law
Suicides have markedly increased among military personnel in recent years. We used path analysis to examine factors associated with suicidal/self‐harming ideation among male Navy and Marine Corps personnel transitioning to civilian life. Roughly 7% of men (Sailors = 5.3%, Marines = 9.0%) reported ideation during the previous 30 days. Results suggest that combat exposure, substance abuse, and resilience are associated with suicidal ideation/self‐harming thoughts through the mediation of posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms and/or depression symptoms. Substance abuse plays a moderating role. Resilience had a direct effect only among the Marines. Implications for improving the transition to civilian life are discussed.