Posttraumatic Growth and Suicide in Veterans: The Impact of Mental Health Stigma and Interpersonal Needs

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Blevins, C. (2019). Posttraumatic Growth and Suicide in Veterans: The Impact of Mental Health Stigma and Interpersonal Needs. Unc Charlotte Electronic Theses And Dissertations.
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Abstract

Over the past 20 years, suicide rates within the US military have increased at unprecedented rates. According to Joiner’s (2005) Interpersonal-Psychological Theory of Suicide (IPTS), perceived burdensomeness and thwarted belongingness are direct risk factors for suicide, which may be exacerbated by self-stigma. Emerging research suggests that posttraumatic growth (PTG) may contribute to post-combat suicide resiliency; however, little is known about the mechanisms underlying its protective influence. Therefore, in an effort to identify intervention targets, the present study sought to test a model of specific mechanisms of suicide risk and resiliency in post-combat military personnel. Participants included 215 combat veterans of OEF/OIF. Statistical tests of simple mediation models utilizing bootstrapping techniques and analyses in AMOS were used to test the hypothesized model. Self-stigma was positively related to thwarted belongingness, perceived burdensomeness, and PTG. Thwarted belongingness was related to perceived burdensomeness, and perceived burdensomeness was related to suicide risk. PTG was negatively related to thwarted belongingness, perceived burdensomeness, and overall suicide risk. Results suggest that self-stigma may exacerbate suicide risk by increasing a sense of thwarted belongingness and perceived burdensomeness. Results also suggest that PTG may directly and indirectly protect against suicide risk by offsetting the risk conveyed through thwarted belongingness and perceived burdensomeness. Thus, when conducting research with combat veterans at risk for suicide, it may be beneficial to consider interactive rather than isolated factors, with an emphasis on potential explanatory mechanisms. Further, PTG, belongingness, and burdensomeness may be important variables to consider in suicide prevention efforts.

Details
Author

Blevins, Cara

Title

Posttraumatic Growth and Suicide in Veterans: The Impact of Mental Health Stigma and Interpersonal Needs

Physical Description

1 online resource (138 pages) : PDF

Date

2019

Degree Granting Institution

University of North Carolina at Charlotte

Abstract

Over the past 20 years, suicide rates within the US military have increased at unprecedented rates. According to Joiner’s (2005) Interpersonal-Psychological Theory of Suicide (IPTS), perceived burdensomeness and thwarted belongingness are direct risk factors for suicide, which may be exacerbated by self-stigma. Emerging research suggests that posttraumatic growth (PTG) may contribute to post-combat suicide resiliency; however, little is known about the mechanisms underlying its protective influence. Therefore, in an effort to identify intervention targets, the present study sought to test a model of specific mechanisms of suicide risk and resiliency in post-combat military personnel. Participants included 215 combat veterans of OEF/OIF. Statistical tests of simple mediation models utilizing bootstrapping techniques and analyses in AMOS were used to test the hypothesized model. Self-stigma was positively related to thwarted belongingness, perceived burdensomeness, and PTG. Thwarted belongingness was related to perceived burdensomeness, and perceived burdensomeness was related to suicide risk. PTG was negatively related to thwarted belongingness, perceived burdensomeness, and overall suicide risk. Results suggest that self-stigma may exacerbate suicide risk by increasing a sense of thwarted belongingness and perceived burdensomeness. Results also suggest that PTG may directly and indirectly protect against suicide risk by offsetting the risk conveyed through thwarted belongingness and perceived burdensomeness. Thus, when conducting research with combat veterans at risk for suicide, it may be beneficial to consider interactive rather than isolated factors, with an emphasis on potential explanatory mechanisms. Further, PTG, belongingness, and burdensomeness may be important variables to consider in suicide prevention efforts.

Genre

doctoral dissertations

Subjects--Topics

Clinical psychology

Degree

Ph.D.

Keywords

Interpersonal Needs
Military
Posttraumatic Growth
Stigma
Suicide
Veteran

Subject Area

Psychology

Advisor(s)

Tedeschi, Richard

Committee Members

Canevello, Amy
Elnitsky, Christine
Malone, Elizabeth

Degree Note

Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of North Carolina at Charlotte, 2019.

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Rights Holder Information

Copyright is held by the author unless otherwise indicated.

Identifier

Blevins_uncc_0694D_12070

Permalink

http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.13093/etd:1996