Loneliness partially mediates the relation between substance use and suicidality in Veterans

ABSTRACT

America has experienced a rapid increase in loneliness, substance use, and suicidality. This increase is particularly deleterious for Veterans, who, as compared to nonmilitary-connected civilians, experience elevated rates of loneliness, substance use, and suicidality. In this project we investigated the link between loneliness, substance use, and suicidality, paying particular attention to the mediational role of loneliness between substance use and suicidality. 1,469 Veterans (male, n = 1004, 67.2%; female, n = 457, 32.3%; transgender/non-binary/prefer not to say, n = 8, 0.5%) answered online surveys in the Mental Health and Well-Being Project. Items assessed participants on psychosocial antecedents of health and wellness. Pearson correlations and mediational models were used to determine if loneliness, substance use, and suicidality were related and if loneliness mediated the link between substance use and suicidality. Results indicated that loneliness, substance use, and suicidality were significantly and positively related (rs = .33–.42, ps < .01). Additionally, loneliness partially mediated the link between substance use and suicidality (β = .08 [.06–.10]), suggesting that, within the context of substance use in Veterans, loneliness may account for significant variance in suicidality. Together findings suggest the Veterans Health Administration should support, fund, and study community engagement activities that could reduce the development or intensity of substance use, loneliness, and suicidality in Veterans.

KEYWORDS:

• Substance use
• loneliness
• suicidality
• Veterans

Disclosure statement

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

Data availability statement

Additionally, the data that support the findings of this study are available on the ICSPR website at https://www.icpsr.umich.edu/web/ICPSR/studies/38304.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Department of Veterans Affairs, Veterans Health Administration, Office of Academic Affiliations VA Quality Scholars Advanced Fellowship Program. The views expressed in this article are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the position or policy of the Department of Veterans Affairs or the United States government. Program Award Number 3Q072019C.