| Popis: |
With approximately 6,000 U.S. veteran deaths by suicide annually, the examination of protective factors against suicidality among returning veterans has received growing attention (DVA, 2010, January). This study examined the influence of one potential protective factor, a sense of coherence (SOC) as defined by Antonovsky (1979), on the relationship between combat distress and suicidality among Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) and Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) veterans. Data from 157 OEF/OIF combat veterans were collected in the primary care waiting area at a VA Medical Center. The average age in the sample was 35.67 (SD = 5.0) and was comprised of predominately White, single, and employed male veterans. Findings from correlation analyses found negative associations between SOC and suicidality, SOC and combat distress; as well as a positive association between combat distress and suicidality. No support for the associations between suicidality and time since active duty service, combat exposure and combat distress, or pre-deployment history of traumatic experiences and combat distress were found. Support was found for the primary hypothesis that predicted SOC would moderate the relationship between combat distress and suicidality. The interaction between SOC and combat distress was a significant predictor of suicidality above and beyond the significant contribution of combat distress and SOC alone. Simple slope analyses indicated that among OEF/OIF veterans with a high SOC, combat distress and suicidality are unrelated suggesting that SOC acts as a buffer. However, among OEF/OIF veterans with a low SOC, the positive relationship between combat distress and suicidality is stronger.This study has several important implications based on the findings stated above. First, it is important for researchers and clinicians to address the phenomenological experience of combat rather than exclusive reliance on mental health symptom inventories in the examination of suicidal risk. Second, the findings provide support that SOC has a mechanistic function in the construct of psychological resilience and may act as a protective factor against suicidality among OEF/OIF veterans who served in a combat-zone. Lastly, the use of theoretical frameworks in conducting resilience research is an important implication for future research examining psychological resilience among OEF/OIF veterans. |
