@article{ref1,
title="Family support, family stress and suicidal ideation in a combat-exposed sample of OEF/OIF Veterans",
journal="Anxiety, stress, and coping",
year="2015",
author="Gradus, Jaimie L. and Smith, Brian N. and Vogt, Dawne S.",
volume="28",
number="6",
pages="706-715",
abstract="Background and Objectives: Deployment-related risk factors for suicidal ideation among Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) and Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) Veterans have received a great deal of attention. Studies show that mental health symptoms mediate the association between most deployment stressors and suicidal ideation; however, family-related factors during deployment are largely unexplored. We examined posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression symptoms as mediators of the associations between deployment family support and stress and post-deployment suicidal ideation in combat-exposed OEF/OIF Veterans. <br><br>DESIGN: National cross-sectional mail survey. <br><br>METHODS: 1,046 Veterans responded to the survey. The sample for this study was 978 Veterans who experienced combat. Regression-based path analyses were conducted. <br><br>RESULTS: Family support and stress had direct associations with suicidal ideation. When PTSD and depression symptoms were examined as mediators of these associations results revealed significant indirect paths through these symptoms. <br><br>CONCLUSIONS: This study contributes to the literature on suicidal ideation risk factors among OEF/OIF Veterans. Deployment family support and family stress are associated with suicidal ideation; however these associations occur primarily through mental health symptomatology, consistent with findings observed for other deployment factors. This research supports ongoing efforts to treat mental health symptomatology as a means of suicide prevention.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="1061-5806",
doi="10.1080/10615806.2015.1006205",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/10615806.2015.1006205"
}