Subjective well-being and suicidal ideation in a military community sample

ABSTRACT

Preliminary evidence suggests different dimensions of subjective well-being (SWB) may be differentially associated with reduced suicide risk when measured at the person versus group level. In this longitudinal study, 2055 military personnel and civilian government employees completed self-report surveys administered 6 times from January 2020 to November 2021. Generalized estimating equation (GEE) models were used to examine associations among life satisfaction, perceptions of life being worthwhile, happiness, negative affect, and suicidal ideation. At the participant level, life satisfaction and worthwhile life were significantly correlated with reduced suicidal ideation whereas negative affect was significantly correlated with increased suicidal ideation. At the unit level, happiness was significantly correlated with reduced suicidal ideation. When covarying for participant-level depression and hopelessness, participant-level life satisfaction was no longer statistically significant. Results suggest eudaimonic SWB may be protective at the individual level whereas hedonic SWB may be protective at the group level.

KEYWORDS:

• Subjective well-being
• suicidal behavior
• meaning
• happiness
• Bryan craig
• Kent Corso

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Data availability statement

The data that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author, CJB, upon reasonable request.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the U.S. Army Medical Research Acquisition Activity (USAMRAA), through the Congressionally Directed Medical Research Program (CDMRP) under Award No. W81XWH1820064 (PI: Bryan). Opinions, interpretations, conclusions, and recommendations are those of the author and are not necessarily endorsed by the Department of Defense.