TY  - JOUR
PY  - 2024//
TI  - The impact of moral injury on suicide risk among recently discharged Israeli veterans: a longitudinal moderated mediation model of trauma-related guilt and self-forgiveness
JO  - Psychological trauma: theory, research, practice, and policy
A1  - Levi-Belz, Yossi
A1  - Levinstein, Yoav
A1  - Zerach, Gadi
SP  - ePub
EP  - ePub
VL  - ePub
IS  - ePub
N2  - BACKGROUND: Exposure to potentially morally injurious events (PMIEs) during military service has been associated with heightened trauma-related guilt levels, which in turn, could increase suicide risk among combat veterans. However, no longitudinal study has established temporal associations between these variables while examining a Moderated mediation model with self-forgiveness as a possible moderator of the PMIEs-suicide risk links during the first year following discharge. <br><br>METHOD: Participants were 374 active-duty Israeli combatants who participated in a 5-year longitudinal study with three measurement points: 1 month before discharge from army service (T1), then 6 months (T2), and 12 months (T3) following their discharge. Data were assessed through semistructured interviews and validated self-report questionnaires. <br><br>RESULTS: All PMIE dimensions at T1 were negatively associated with self-forgiveness at T1 and positively associated with levels of trauma-related guilt at T2 and suicide risk at T3. Our longitudinal moderated mediation model findings indicate that, among those reporting low levels of self-forgiveness, higher levels of PMIE-Self and PMIE-Others at T1 contribute to trauma-related guilt levels at T2, which, in turn, are linked to a higher suicide risk at T3 among those reporting low levels of self-forgiveness. <br><br>CONCLUSIONS: Experiencing PMIEs, especially PMIE-Self and PMIE-Other, proved to be validated predictors of trauma-related guilt and, in turn, of suicide risk during the first year after the veterans' discharge. Combatants at their discharge from the military should have access to targeted self-forgiveness interventions, as these interventions can have a buffering effect on the development of suicidal ideation and behaviors following PMIEs. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).<p />  <p>Language: en</p>
LA  - en
SN  - 1942-9681
UR  - http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/tra0001651
ID  - ref1
ER  -