title: Personality factors underlying suicidal behavior among military youth.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Suicidal behavior is one the most significant mental health problems in the military. Militaries are closed systems that operate in particular situations. Military service is associated with certain stressful conditions. On this basis, there is likely of trauma in the military environment. Measures of suicidal behavior are pathologically complex. A range of biological, psychological, social, and institutional factors are involved in the incidence and prevalence of these behaviors.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  One of the underlying factors in suicidal behavior is individuals' personality.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study population comprised of the Iranian Armed Forces. To recruit the sample of the research, 1659 soldiers were selected by multistage sampling. Data were collected using the Beck Scale for Suicide Ideation (BSSI) and NEO-Five Factor Inventory.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was a significant positive correlation (r = 0.323) between neuroticism and suicide ideation; however, significant negative correlations existed between three other personality traits --extraversion [r = -0.306], agreeableness [r = -0.227], and conscientiousness [r = -0.271] and suicidal ideation. Unlike neuroticism, extraversion and conscientiousness personality factors could reduce significantly (as much 14% as are predicted) levels of suicidal ideation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Based on these results, neuroticism might increase suicide, but extraversion and conscientiousness personality traits are associated with a reduced risk of suicide.
authors.affiliation: Behavioral Sciences Research Center, Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, IR Iran.
authors.forename: Abdollah
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Soltaninejad
authors.affiliation: Behavioral Sciences Research Center, Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, IR Iran.
authors.forename: Ali
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fathi-Ashtiani
authors.affiliation: Behavioral Sciences Research Center, Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, IR Iran.
authors.forename: Khodabakhsh
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ahmadi
authors.affiliation: Department of Economic, Firoozkooh Branch, Islamic Azad University, Firoozkooh, IR Iran.
authors.forename: Hediye Sadat
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Mirsharafoddini
authors.affiliation: Behavioral Sciences Research Center, Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, IR Iran.
authors.forename: Alireza
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nikmorad
authors.affiliation: Nursing and Midwifery Faculty, Jiroft University of Medical Sciences, Jiroft, IR Iran.
authors.forename: Motahare
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pilevarzadeh
keywords: Behavior; Military Personnel; Personality; Suicide