The interpersonal theory of suicide risk in male US service members/veterans: the independent effects of perceived burdensomeness and thwarted belongingness
Introduction: Suicide rates remain high among US military service member/veteran (SM/V) males with overall trends showing an upward trajectory. Several empirical studies and official US government reports show that interpersonal challenges can substantially increase suicide risk. One theory, the Int...
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Taylor & Francis Group
2025-12-01
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| Series: | European Journal of Psychotraumatology |
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| Online Access: | https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/20008066.2024.2439748 |
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| author | Rebecca K. Blais Kevin J. Grimm |
| author_facet | Rebecca K. Blais Kevin J. Grimm |
| author_sort | Rebecca K. Blais |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Introduction: Suicide rates remain high among US military service member/veteran (SM/V) males with overall trends showing an upward trajectory. Several empirical studies and official US government reports show that interpersonal challenges can substantially increase suicide risk. One theory, the Interpersonal Theory of Suicide (IPT), focuses thwarted belongingness, perceived burdensomeness, capability for suicide, and their interactions, as key contributors to suicide risk. Extant military studies are subscribed to specific subsamples and/or do not test the full theory. This has resulted in mixed findings or findings with limited generalizability. The current study addressed these limitations.Method: A convenience sample of 508 male SM/Vs completed self-report measures of lifetime suicide ideation, likelihood of making a future attempt, thwarted belongingness, perceived burdensomeness, capability for suicide, and demographics. Suicide ideation and risk was regressed on IPT variables, relevant interactions, and covariates.Results: The variance accounted for in suicide ideation and likelihood of a future attempt was 32% and 62%, respectively. Higher perceived burdensomeness was associated with suicide ideation, and higher thwarted belongingness had a marginally significant association with suicide ideation. The presence of suicide ideation and higher thwarted belongingness were associated with the likelihood of making a future attempt. Capability for suicide was not associated with the likelihood of making a future attempt.Discussion: Perceived burdensomeness, suicide ideation, and thwarted belongingness appear to individually create risk for future suicide behaviour among US military service members and veterans. Additional work is needed to establish comprehensive theories of suicide risk in this population. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-7493251e8a944548964e7c50821b0419 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2000-8066 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-12-01 |
| publisher | Taylor & Francis Group |
| record_format | Article |
| series | European Journal of Psychotraumatology |
| spelling | doaj-art-7493251e8a944548964e7c50821b04192025-02-04T13:06:00ZengTaylor & Francis GroupEuropean Journal of Psychotraumatology2000-80662025-12-0116110.1080/20008066.2024.2439748The interpersonal theory of suicide risk in male US service members/veterans: the independent effects of perceived burdensomeness and thwarted belongingnessRebecca K. Blais0Kevin J. Grimm1Psychology Department, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, USAPsychology Department, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, USAIntroduction: Suicide rates remain high among US military service member/veteran (SM/V) males with overall trends showing an upward trajectory. Several empirical studies and official US government reports show that interpersonal challenges can substantially increase suicide risk. One theory, the Interpersonal Theory of Suicide (IPT), focuses thwarted belongingness, perceived burdensomeness, capability for suicide, and their interactions, as key contributors to suicide risk. Extant military studies are subscribed to specific subsamples and/or do not test the full theory. This has resulted in mixed findings or findings with limited generalizability. The current study addressed these limitations.Method: A convenience sample of 508 male SM/Vs completed self-report measures of lifetime suicide ideation, likelihood of making a future attempt, thwarted belongingness, perceived burdensomeness, capability for suicide, and demographics. Suicide ideation and risk was regressed on IPT variables, relevant interactions, and covariates.Results: The variance accounted for in suicide ideation and likelihood of a future attempt was 32% and 62%, respectively. Higher perceived burdensomeness was associated with suicide ideation, and higher thwarted belongingness had a marginally significant association with suicide ideation. The presence of suicide ideation and higher thwarted belongingness were associated with the likelihood of making a future attempt. Capability for suicide was not associated with the likelihood of making a future attempt.Discussion: Perceived burdensomeness, suicide ideation, and thwarted belongingness appear to individually create risk for future suicide behaviour among US military service members and veterans. Additional work is needed to establish comprehensive theories of suicide risk in this population.https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/20008066.2024.2439748Suicidemilitaryinterpersonal theory of suicideVeteransperceived burdensomenessthwarted belongingness |
| spellingShingle | Rebecca K. Blais Kevin J. Grimm The interpersonal theory of suicide risk in male US service members/veterans: the independent effects of perceived burdensomeness and thwarted belongingness European Journal of Psychotraumatology Suicide military interpersonal theory of suicide Veterans perceived burdensomeness thwarted belongingness |
| title | The interpersonal theory of suicide risk in male US service members/veterans: the independent effects of perceived burdensomeness and thwarted belongingness |
| title_full | The interpersonal theory of suicide risk in male US service members/veterans: the independent effects of perceived burdensomeness and thwarted belongingness |
| title_fullStr | The interpersonal theory of suicide risk in male US service members/veterans: the independent effects of perceived burdensomeness and thwarted belongingness |
| title_full_unstemmed | The interpersonal theory of suicide risk in male US service members/veterans: the independent effects of perceived burdensomeness and thwarted belongingness |
| title_short | The interpersonal theory of suicide risk in male US service members/veterans: the independent effects of perceived burdensomeness and thwarted belongingness |
| title_sort | interpersonal theory of suicide risk in male us service members veterans the independent effects of perceived burdensomeness and thwarted belongingness |
| topic | Suicide military interpersonal theory of suicide Veterans perceived burdensomeness thwarted belongingness |
| url | https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/20008066.2024.2439748 |
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