Religious Coping and Suicide Risk in a Sample of Recently Returned Veterans

Abstract

The aim of the present study is to examine religious coping and depression as predictors of suicide risk in a large U.S. veteran sample from recent conflicts. Demographic, military history, depressive symptomatology, positive and negative religious coping and self-reported suicidal behavior were analyzed in a sample of 772 recently returned veterans. Suicide risk was computed as a continuum of risk across 4 separate categories. Negative religious coping was significantly associated with suicide risk, even after statistically controlling for depressive symptomatology and other variables. The present analysis did not find any significant relationships for positive religious coping. No significant gender interaction effects were found. The present findings support the importance of understanding veteran experiences of religious coping, particularly negative religious coping, in the context of suicide prevention efforts.

Keywords:

• religious coping
• suicide
• veterans

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Marek S. Kopacz

Marek S. Kopacz, Department of Veterans Affairs, VISN 2 Center of Excellence for Suicide Prevention, Canandaigua, New York, and Department of Veterans Affairs, Mental Health and Chaplaincy, Durham, North Carolina, USA.

Hugh F. Crean

Hugh F. Crean, Department of Veterans Affairs, VISN 2 Center of Excellence for Suicide Prevention, Canandaigua, and University of Rochester, School of Nursing, Rochester, New York, USA.

Crystal L. Park

Crystal L. Park, Department of Psychological Sciences, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, USA.

Rani A. Hoff

Rani A. Hoff, Department of Veterans Affairs, Office of Mental Health Operations, West Haven, and Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA.