Suicidal Behaviors in African American Military Personnel: A Test of the Interpersonal Psychological Theory of Suicide

Abstract of DissertationSuicidal Behaviors in African American Military Personnel: A Test of the Interpersonal Psychological Theory of Suicide This study aims to test several of the main predictions of the Interpersonal-Psychological Theory of Suicide (IPTS) in relation to suicidal ideation and intent for African American military personnel. IPTS posits that a combination of the perception of burdening others (perceived burdensomeness), a sense of social alienation (thwarted belongingness), and the capability to harm oneself (acquired capability) coalesce to make lethal or near-lethal suicidal behaviors possible. Along this pathway, suicidal ideation and suicidal intent are framed as related, but separated constructs which increasingly advance suicide risk. Several studies have explored both suicidal ideation and suicidal intent in military or African American populations as outcomes of risk through this model; but IPTS is yet to be tested in a sample of African Americans who are all also military personnel. Multiple imputation and subsequent logistical regression analyses were conducted to test the study’s six hypotheses. Results showed that perceived burdensomeness was found to be a better predictor of suicidal ideation than thwarted belongingness, which was also significantly associated with suicidal ideation. The theory’s prediction that the interaction between perceived burdensomeness and thwarted belongingness would be significantly associated with suicidal ideation was not supported. Perceived burdensomeness was positively related to suicidal ideation and the relationship between perceived burdensomeness and suicidal ideation is stronger at higher levels of hopelessness. Regarding theoretical and hypothesized predictions related to suicidal intent, the following was found. Suicidal ideation was positively related to suicidal intent; but fearlessness about death, a subscale of acquired capability, did not moderate this relationship as expected. Finally, estimates for the direct and indirect effects of perceived burdensomeness on suicidal intent were not interpretable; however, post-hoc analyses suggest perceived burdensomeness has a positive association on suicidal intent through suicidal ideation, especially at higher levels of hopelessness. The study concludes with limitations and recommendations for the IPTS as a model for further understanding how interpersonal risk may aid in the exploration of separate-but-related outcomes along the suicide continuum. Keywords: perceived burdensomeness, interpersonal theory, suicidal ideation, suicidal intent, military, African American

Author

• Jeffries, David W.

Language

• en

Date created

• 2021

Type of Work

• Dissertation

License

• All rights reserved

Rights statement

• In Copyright

GW Unit

• Psychology

Degree

• Ph.D.

Advisor

• Molock, Sherry D.

Persistent URL

•  https://scholarspace.library.gwu.edu/etd/1v53jx817