Examining the Relation of Resilience and Suicide Risk Among Veterans: Analyzing the Moderation Effects of Sex and Service Branch
Year: 2026
Type: dissertation
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: Suicide remains a critical public health concern, especially among Veterans. Notably, the age-adjusted suicide rate for Veteran women significantly increased between 2001 and 2022, highlighting the urgent need for more research on suicide risks and protective factors specific to Veteran men and women. This study aimed to test the relation between resilience, service branch, and suicide risk, with sex as a moderating factor, and utilized the Integrated Motivational-Volitional Model (IMV) of suicidal behavior as its theoretical framework. This study utilized a sample of 244 treatment-seeking Veteran men and women collected via the One Tribe Foundation. It tested the relation between resilience and suicide risk and identified differences based on sex and service branch using ordinary least-squares linear regression and moderation analysis. Group differences in resilience and suicide risk scores were analyzed across sex and service branch. Group differences on resilience and suicide risk scores were also examined across varying levels of suicide risk. Findings demonstrated that resilience and suicide risk were negatively related. Main effects indicated resilience and sex significantly predicted suicide risk. However, sex did not significantly moderate the relation between resilience and suicide risk. Additionally, resilience scores did not differ between sexes or among service branches. No differences were observed between sex and service branch in resilience scores. Suicide risk significantly differed between sexes but did not significantly differ between service branches. Finally, significant differences in suicide risk scores were observed across sex and service branch. This study aimed to further inform and strengthen the role of motivational moderators, as conceptualized within the IMV model (e.g., resilience). Additionally, these findings emphasize the need for tailored, upstream suicide prevention strategies by centering suicide prevention efforts around risk factors (e.g., sex, service branch) linked to increased suicide risk in the above analyses. These findings also provide valuable insights for researchers and clinicians regarding individuals who choose not to seek Veterans Health Administration (VHA) services, a group shown to have higher suicide rates than those receiving care within VHA systems. Limitations and future directions are discussed.
Author: Sweeney, Regan S.
Institution: Texas Tech University
Language: English
Subfield: Clinical Psychology
Field: Psychology
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W7214136066