Citation

Marie L, Taylor SE, Basu N, Fadoir NA, Schuler K, McKelvey D, Smith PN. J. Clin. Psychol. (Hoboken) 2019; ePub(ePub): ePub.

Affiliation

Department of Psychology, University of South Alabama, Mobile, Alabama.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2019, John Wiley and Sons)

DOI

10.1002/jclp.22803

PMID

31141169

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: It is important to understand factors that moderate the likelihood of developing suicidal thoughts following traumatic exposure and posttraumatic stress symptoms.

METHOD: In this cross-sectional study, a moderated atemporal mediation analysis was conducted in a sample of 709 college students (71% female, M _age  = 19.90 years, 67% Caucasian) to test the associations between trauma, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms, and suicidal ideation, with grit entered as a moderator of all paths in the equation.

RESULTS: PTSD symptoms mediated the association between trauma and suicidal ideation. Grit moderated the direct pathway from PTSD symptoms to suicidal ideation.

CONCLUSIONS: Grit and other constructs of resiliency may inform strength-focused interventions to remediate the impact of trauma and posttraumatic stress symptoms and potentially reduce suicidal thoughts and risk for suicide.

© 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Language: en

Keywords

personality; primary prevention; suicide; traumatic exposure