Nexus of Despair: A Network Analysis of Suicidal Ideation among Veterans

Authors

Jeffrey S. Simons, University of South DakotaFollow
Raluca M. Simons, University of South DakotaFollow
Kyle J. Walters, University of South Dakota
Jessica A. Keith, Bay Pines VA Health Care System
Carol O'Brien, Bay Pines VA Health Care System
Kate Andal, Sioux Falls VA Health Care System
Scott F. Stoltenberg, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow

Date of this Version

2020

Citation

Archives of Suicide Research 24:sup1 (2020), pp. S314–S336.

doi: 10.1080/13811118.2019.1574689

Comments

Copyright © 2019 International Academy for Suicide Research. Published by Routledge/Taylor & Francis Group. Used by permission.

Abstract

The objective of this study was to estimate a network model of risk and resilience factors of suicidal ideation among veterans. Two network models of suicidal ideation among Operation Iraqi Freedom/ Operation Enduring Freedom/Operation New Dawn veterans (N = 276) incorporated key disorders, traumatic stress, and resilience constructs to contextualize suicidal ideation. Childhood trauma was positively connected with suicidal ideation and harassment and inversely connected with social support and distress tolerance. This exemplifies long-lasting associations between childhood trauma and revictimization, emotion regulation, and ability to form supportive social relationships. A subsequent model including lower-order facets indicated that combat trauma was predominantly associated with posttraumatic stress disorder–intrusion symptoms. This study highlights the importance of addressing both risk and resilience to reduce suicide risk among veterans and increases understanding of factors that contribute to suicidal ideation.