Relations Between Thwarted Belongingness, Perceived Burdensomeness, and History of Suicide Attempts and Readiness for Mental Health Treatment in High-Risk Veterans, Reserves, and Active Duty Service Members

Abstract

Suicide rates for service members and veterans are growing rapidly in the United States. Despite availability of evidence-based approaches, a large number of high-risk individuals are reluctant to seek out treatment. The present study used the interpersonal theory of suicide, involving 3 primary predictors of death by suicide to investigate treatment readiness in high-risk U. S. veterans, reserves, and active duty service members. Four hundred and two service members were recruited. Inclusion criteria involved (a) reporting active suicidal ideation and (b) denying active behavioral health treatment. All participants completed a self-report battery that assessed burdensomeness, thwarted belongingness, lifetime suicide attempts, and perceptions about treatment. Regression analyses revealed that thwarted belongingness was significantly predictive of treatment perceptions and readiness, in that higher or more severe scores on the thwarted belongingness scale were significantly related to lower or less likely treatment perceptions and readiness scores. The findings suggested that, in high-risk service members, thwarted belongingness is predictive of lower treatment readiness, and contributes to the growing literature on perceived stigmas, treatment barriers and readiness, and suicidal behaviors and risk factors.

Keywords:

• Interpersonal theory of suicide
• veterans
• suicide
• treatment readiness

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by grants from Department of Defense awarded to Tracy Stecker (W81XH-13-2-0032) and from Veteran Affairs Clinical Sciences Research awarded to Daniel F. Gros (CX000845). 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. There are no conflicts of interest to disclose for any of the authors.