Date of Award
1-1-2024
Document Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Ph.D. in Psychology
First Advisor
Stefan E. Schulenberg
Second Advisor
John N. Young
Third Advisor
Sarah A. Bilski
School
University of Mississippi
Relational Format
dissertation/thesis
Abstract
Individuals with military backgrounds are significantly more likely to experience mental health concerns, including suicidal ideation. Moral injury, which is associated with suicidality, is the feeling of shame, grief, and guilt associated with perpetrating, failing to prevent, or witnessing morally transgressive acts. According to the Moral Injury Model, when one acts or witnesses an act that transgresses their moral beliefs, they experience dissonance and internal conflict. A topic that has not yet been studied in terms of moral injury is the positive psychology construct of character strengths, including forgiveness and self-regulation. This study hypothesized ratings of suicide would be positively associated with risk factors and negatively associated with protective factors identified in the literature. Additionally, we hypothesized the character strengths of forgiveness and self-regulation would moderate moral injury and suicidality. Bivariate correlations and multiple simple linear regressions confirmed hypotheses one and two. Moral injury, PTSD symptoms, combat exposure, depression, anxiety, stress, and substance use were all significantly and positively associated with suicidal ideation. Conversely, forgiveness, self-regulation, social connectedness, purpose in life, and satisfaction with life were inversely associated with suicidal ideation and behaviors. The statistical analyses for the moderating relationship between moral injury, forgiveness, and suicidal ideation revealed a significant main effect between moral injury and suicidal ideation and behaviors; however, there was no significant main effect of forgiveness on suicidal ideation and behaviors. Additionally, no significant interaction was found between forgiveness on moral injury and suicidal ideation and behaviors. Similarly, for the moderating effect of self-regulation on moral injury and suicidal ideation, there was a significant main effect found between moral injury and suicidal ideation and behaviors, but no significant main effect of self-regulation on suicidal ideation and behaviors. Additionally, there was not a significant interaction between self-regulation and moral injury on suicidal ideation and behaviors. From these results, the effect of moral injury and suicidal ideation and behaviors was not moderated by either forgiveness or self-regulation. These findings suggest continued examination on the mechanisms associated with death by suicide in the military population is sorely needed.
Recommended Citation
Raley, Mikaela J., "Combatting Suicidality in the Military: Harnessing Forgiveness and Self-Regulation Against the Harrowing Effects of Moral Injury and Suicidality" (2024). Electronic Theses and Dissertations. 2971.
https://egrove.olemiss.edu/etd/2971