Cross (Unit)-Level Effects of Cohesion on Relationships of Suicide Thoughts to Combat Exposure, Postdeployment Stressors, and Postdeployment Social Support

Behavioral Medicine
James Griffith

Abstract

A behavioral health concern for the US military has been suicide, largely due to its increased prevalence in the last several years during US involvement in the Iraq and Afghanistan wars. Using hierarchical linear modeling (HLM), the present study examined relationships among combat exposure, postdeployment stressors, social support, and unit cohesion. Survey data were obtained from 4,567 soldiers who were members of 50 company-sized units. At the individual level, combat exposure and postdeployment stressors were associated with suicidal thoughts. Postdeployment social support was associated with fewer suicidal thoughts. There was no evidence of the stress-buffering effect of social support. At the group level, reduced risk for suicidal thoughts was associated with units having higher than average cohesion. Reduced risk for suicidal thoughts in conjunction with combat experiences was observed in units having higher than average cohesion, though not reaching a traditional level of statistical significance.

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Citations

Dec 1, 2017·Journal of Public Health Management and Practice : JPHMP·Natalie WilkinsMarci Hertz
Jan 30, 2019·Depression and Anxiety·Lauren AndersonMurray B Stein
Feb 9, 2019·Archives of Suicide Research : Official Journal of the International Academy for Suicide Research·Jeffrey S SimonsScott F Stoltenberg
May 11, 2018·Comprehensive Psychiatry·Jessica M LaCroixMarjan Ghahramanlou-Holloway
Apr 1, 2021·The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine : Research on Paradigm, Practice, and Policy·Amanda VitaleAnn Feder
Apr 21, 2021·Suicide & Life-threatening Behavior·Benjamin TrachikRaymond P Tucker
Jul 2, 2021·Suicide & Life-threatening Behavior·Catherine L DempseyRobert J Ursano
Dec 12, 2019·Psychiatry Research·Benjamin TrachikMichael N Dretsch

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