Identifying Central Symptoms and Bridge Pathways Between Autism Spectrum Disorder Traits and Suicidality Within an Active Duty Sample

Abstract

Objective

This study employed network analysis to characterize central autism spectrum disorder (ASD) traits and suicide symptoms within an active duty military sample as well as to identify symptoms that may bridge between ASD traits and suicidality (i.e., suicidal ideation and behaviors).

Method

Participants were active duty U.S. military service members (N = 287). Autism spectrum traits, suicidality, depression, and suicide related constructs were assessed online via self-report.

Results

Within the combined ASD trait-suicidality network, suicide rumination, suicide behaviors, and depression had the highest strength centrality. The most central bridge symptoms between ASD and suicidality were thwarted belongingness, social skills deficits, and depressive symptoms.

Conclusions

Social skills deficits and thwarted belongingness may function as a meaningful bridge between ASD symptoms and suicidality within active duty members. Individuals with ASD symptoms who additionally present with high levels of thwarted belongingness and/or considerable social skills deficits may be at increased risk for suicidality.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Within an ASD-suicidality network, social skills deficits, low belonging, and depression had the greatest bridge strength.

• Although low belonging emerged as a bridge symptom, perceived burdensomeness did not.

• Suicide rumination, suicide behaviors, and depression were the most central symptom in an ASD-suicidality network.

• Symptoms related to social skills deficits may connect ASD traits and suicidality.

Keywords:

• Autism spectrum disorder
• active duty
• military
• network analysis
• suicidal ideation
• suicidal behaviors
• suicidality

DISCLOSURE STATEMENT

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported in part by the Military Suicide Research Consortium (MSRC), an effort supported by the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs under Award Nos. [W81XWH-10-2-0181 and W81XWH-10-2-0178]. Opinions, interpretations, conclusions and recommendations are those of the authors and are not necessarily endorsed by the MSRC or the Department of Defense.

Notes on contributors

April R. Smith

April R. Smith, Department of Psychological Sciences, Auburn University, Auburn, AL, USA.

Rowan A. Hunt

Rowan A. Hunt, Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, USA.

William Grunewald

William Grunewald, Department of Psychological Sciences, Auburn University, Auburn, AL, USA.

Min Eun Jeon

Min Eun Jeon, Department of Psychology, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL, USA.

Ian H. Stanley

Ian H. Stanley, Division, Psychology, VA Puget Sound HCS Seattle, Seattle, WA, USA.

Cheri A. Levinson

Cheri A. Levinson, Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, USA.

Thomas E. Joiner

Thomas E. Joiner, Department of Psychology, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL, USA.