Resilience as a Potential Moderator in the Relationship between PTSD Symptomology and Suicidal Ideation and Deliberate Self-Harm in Veterans
Loading...
Author
Kovatch, Justine
Publisher
Washburn University
Sponsor
Psychology Department
Issue Date
Rights
Alternative Title
Abstract
Veterans are at higher risk for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), suicidal ideation,
and suicide completion. Non-suicidal self-harm is closely related to suicidal ideation and is also
a concern among Veterans. The current study is a replication and extension of Marie et al. (2019)
and examines resilience as a protective factor between PTSD symptoms and suicidal ideation
and self-harm among a sample of Veterans. The study is grounded in the Interpersonal Theory of
Suicide (Joiner, 2005; Van Orden, 2010) and the Protective Factor Model in Resilience Theory
(O’Leary, 1998; Fergus & Zimmerman, 2005). Veterans with PTSD symptoms who are highly
resilient were hypothesized to experience little suicidal ideation and deliberate self-harm.
Contrary to predictions, resilience did not moderate the relationship between PTSD and suicidal
ideation or the relationship between PTSD and self-harm. There were positive correlations
among trauma, suicidal ideation, and self-harm. There was also a trend for resilience to be
negatively associated with self-harm; resilience was significantly negatively associated with
suicidal ideation.