Interpersonal Needs and Suicidality of Discharged Army Veterans

Joiner’s (2007) Interpersonal Theory of Suicide (IPTS) has shown promise in understanding the ongoing problem of veteran suicide. Consistent with IPTS, it was hypothesized that perceived burdensomeness (PB) and thwarted belongingness (TB) would significantly predict suicidal ideation (SI), while acquired capability (AC) would predict SI after controlling for the effects of PB and TB on SI. It was also hypothesized that Army veterans’ help-seeking intentions would negatively predict SI after controlling for PB, TB, and AC and that veterans who had been discharged for one or more years (n = 165) would have higher SI than those discharged for less than one year (n = 105). Data from 270 Army veterans were collected. Measures included the Interpersonal Needs Questionnaire-10, the Acquired Capability for Suicide Scale, the Beck Scale of Suicidal Ideation, and the General Help-Seeking Questionnaire. Results indicated that PB and TB were significant predictors of SI (R² = .36, F(2, 267) = 74.66, p = .000); neither AC nor veterans’ help-seeking intentions significantly predicted SI. Army veterans’ time since discharge positively predicted SI (R² = .36, F(1, 264) = 31.84, p = .000) and veterans who were discharged longer than 1 year had higher levels of SI than those discharged more recently (R² = .38, F(1, 268) = 9.61, p = .002). Results are consistent with the literature and support the need for further research regarding Army veterans and their levels of SI help-seeking behaviors.