title: Examining the relationship between coping strategies and suicidal desire in a sample of United States military personnel.
abstract: Suicidal desire in the military has been previously examined through the lens of the Interpersonal-Psychological Theory of Suicide (IPTS). However, no research has examined the impact of specific coping strategies on perceived burdensomeness, thwarted belongingness, and suicidal ideation in a large population of individuals serving in the US military. Furthermore, the factor structure of previously utilized coping clusters did not apply to our sample of military personnel. Therefore, we found a three-factor solution to be tested in this sample. We hypothesized that specific types of coping behavior clusters (Adaptive and Maladaptive) would predict both IPTS constructs and suicidal ideation. Results indicated that Adaptive and Maladaptive coping clusters predicted the IPTS constructs in the hypothesized directions. However, only the Maladaptive cluster predicted suicidal ideation. These findings implicate the need for further research and suicide prevention efforts focusing on coping strategies, specifically those that are maladaptive in nature, in relation to suicidal ideation in military members.
authors.affiliation: University of Southern Mississippi. Electronic address: lauren.khazem@eagles.usm.edu.
authors.forename: Lauren R
authors.initials: LR
authors.lastname: Khazem
authors.affiliation: University of Southern Mississippi.
authors.forename: Keyne C
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Law
authors.affiliation: University of Southern Mississippi.
authors.forename: Bradley A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Green
authors.affiliation: University of Southern Mississippi.
authors.forename: Michael D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Anestis
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D001741:Black or African American / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D001213:Asian / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005163:Factor Analysis, Statistical; D005260:Female; D006630:Hispanic or Latino / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D007198:Indians, North American / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008297:Male; D008889:Military Personnel / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011582:Psychological Theory; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D059020:Suicidal Ideation; D013405:Suicide / Q000523:psychology*; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult; D000092864:Suicide Prevention