Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and Suicidal Behavior: Indirect Effects of Impaired Social Functioning

Abstract

Social functioning is negatively impacted by the presence of PTSD, while increasing risk of suicidal behavior among individuals with PTSD. However, little research has examined the specific role of social functioning in the association between PTSD and suicidal behavior. Parallel multiple indirect effects analyses were performed to understand the unique indirect effects of four aspects of social functioning. Indirect effects of PTSD on suicidal ideation were significant through three pathways: interpersonal conflict, perceived family support, and interpersonal apprehension. Perceived family support was the only indirect pathway significantly associated with suicide attempt. Findings suggest that social functioning should be assessed and potentially targeted during treatment to help modify the risk for suicidal behavior among individuals with PTSD.

Keywords:

• PTSD
• social functioning
• suicidal behavior

Notes

¹An alternative process model predicting a history of suicide attempts was run while including additional covariates of Hispanic ethnicity and years of education. The pattern of findings did not change with inclusion of these additional covariates.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Courtney E. Dutton

Courtney E. Dutton, Department of Psychological Science, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, Arkansas, USA.

Sasha M. Rojas

Sasha M. Rojas, Department of Psychological Science, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, Arkansas, USA.

Christal L. Badour

Christal L. Badour, Department of Psychology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky, USA.

Sonya G. Wanklyn

Sonya G. Wanklyn, Department of Psychology, Ryerson University, Toronto, Canada.

Matthew T. Feldner

Matthew T. Feldner, Department of Psychological Science, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, Arkansas, USA, and Laureate Institute for Brain Research, Tulsa, Oklahoma, USA.