Preferences in Information Processing: Understanding Suicidal Thoughts and Behaviors among Active Duty Military Service Members

Abstract

The present study examined Preferences in Information Processing (PIP), an emerging model of understanding suicidal thoughts and behaviors (STBs), in a clinical military sample for the first time. Constructs of need for affect (NFA; i.e., extent to which one engages or avoids emotional content) and need for cognition (NFC; i.e., extent of preference for and enjoyment of cognitive effort) are central individual differences of the PIP model hypothesized to be associated with STBs. Data (n = 200 active duty personnel) were drawn from medical records and self-report questionnaires from two outpatient treatment settings in a military hospital. Primary findings include: (1) moderate positive bivariate associations of NFA avoidance with mental health symptoms and lifetime STBs; (2) consistent patterns in which NFA approach buffers the negative associations of depression with life STBs, clinical suicide risk, perceived burdensomeness and thwarted belonging. Recommendations are offered for military suicide prevention, and future suicide theory testing.

Keywords:

• Depression
• military
• need for affect
• need for cognition
• suicide

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Research data derived from an approved Naval Medical Center, Portsmouth, Virginia IRB, protocol; number NMCP.2017.0021.

DISCLOSURE STATEMENT

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

Notes

1 Test statistics are only reported for significant demographic effects due to space limitations. Full test statistics available upon request.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by Navy Surgeon General Clinical Investigation Program funds.

Notes on contributors

Robert J. Cramer

Robert J. Cramer, Department of Public Health Sciences, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Charlotte, NC, USA.

Michael Franks

Michael Franks, Naval Medical Center Psychology Training Programs, Naval Medical Center Portsmouth, Portsmouth, VA, USA.

Craig A. Cunningham

Craig A. Cunningham, Nursing Research and Consultation Services, Naval Medical Center Portsmouth, Portsmouth, VA, USA.

Craig J. Bryan

Craig J. Bryan, Department of Psychology, National Center for Veterans Studies, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA.