Advanced search
Publication Cover
The Journal of Positive Psychology
Dedicated to furthering research and promoting good practice
Volume 16, 2021 - Issue 1
Submit an article Journal homepage
1,010
Views
7
CrossRef citations to date
0
Altmetric
Research Article

Finding purpose and happiness after recovery from suicide ideation

Craig J. Bryana National Center for Veterans Studies, Salt Lake City, UT, USA;b Department of Psychology, The University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USACorrespondence[email protected]
,
Annabelle O. Bryana National Center for Veterans Studies, Salt Lake City, UT, USA;b Department of Psychology, The University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
&
Marek S. Kopaczc U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, VISN 2 Center of Excellence for Suicide Prevention, Canandaigua, NY, USA;d U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Mid-Atlantic Mental Illness Research, Education, and Clinical Center, Mental Health and Chaplaincy, Durham, NC, USAORCID Iconhttps://orcid.org/0000-0001-9641-3958
ORCID Icon
Pages 46-53 | Received 27 Nov 2018, Accepted 15 Sep 2019, Published online: 22 Oct 2019
 
Sample our Behavioral Sciences journals, sign in here to start your access, latest two full volumes FREE to you for 14 days

ABSTRACT

Although most individuals who experience suicidal thoughts will never attempt suicide and the majority of those who survive a suicide attempt will neither re-attempt nor die by suicide, little is known about salutary outcomes among previously suicidal individuals. The present study examined levels of happiness and meaning in life among 997 US military personnel, of whom 23% had experienced suicide ideation and 4% had made a suicide attempt during their lives. Happiness and meaning in life were significantly reduced among participants with a history of suicidal thoughts and/or behaviors. Happiness and meaning in life were significantly higher among those participants whose last suicidal thought was further in the past. In less than 1 year after their last suicidal thought, the majority of previously suicidal participants reported average to above average happiness and meaning in life.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Log in via your institution

Access through your institution

Log in to Taylor & Francis Online

Restore content access

Restore content access for purchases made as guest
Purchase options * Save for later

PDF download + Online access

  • 48 hours access to article PDF & online version
  • Article PDF can be downloaded
  • Article PDF can be printed
USD 53.00 Add to cart

Issue Purchase

  • 30 days online access to complete issue
  • Article PDFs can be downloaded
  • Article PDFs can be printed
USD 351.00 Add to cart

* Local tax will be added as applicable

Related Research

People also read lists articles that other readers of this article have read.

Recommended articles lists articles that we recommend and is powered by our AI driven recommendation engine.

Cited by lists all citing articles based on Crossref citations.
Articles with the Crossref icon will open in a new tab.