RT Article
T1 Attempted Suicide Among Adolescents in Military Families: The Mediating Role of Adverse Childhood Experiences
JF Journal of interpersonal violence
VO 36
IS 23/24
SP 11743
OP 11754
A1 Clements-Nolle, Kristen
A2 Lensch, Taylor
A2 Yang, Yueran
A2 Martin, Heather C.
A2 Peek, Julia
A2 Yang, Wei
LA English
YR 2021
UL https://krimdok.uni-tuebingen.de/Record/178048190X
AB Research has shown that adolescents in military families have higher rates of suicidal behaviors compared to their nonmilitary peers. This is typically attributed to military-specific stressors, but exposure to adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) may also play a role. Our primary research objective was to determine whether cumulative exposure to ACEs mediates the relationship between military family involvement and attempted suicide. A two-stage cluster random sampling design was used to randomly sample 5,336 students from 98 high schools. Students were asked whether a parent or other adult in their home was serving on active duty in the military and attempted suicide in the past 12 months was assessed. Six measures of childhood abuse and household dysfunction were summed, and the ACE score was categorized as 0, 1, 2, and 3–6 ACEs. Weighted logistic regression and multinomial regression were used to assess differences in ACEs and attempted suicide, controlling for sex, age, race/ethnicity, rurality, and qualification for free/reduced lunch. To investigate potential mediation effects of ACEs on the relationship between military family and attempted suicide, we conducted path analyses controlling for demographics. Compared to their peers, students in military families had higher exposure to ACEs (1 ACE: adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 1.49, 95% confidence interval [CI] = [0.88, 2.53], 2 ACEs: AOR = 2.07, 95% CI = [1.23, 3.48], and 3–6 ACEs: AOR = 2.57, 95% CI = [1.54, 4.27]) and twice the odds of attempting suicide in the past 12 months (AOR = 2.16, 95% CI = [1.30, 3.61]). Mediation analyses showed that cumulative exposure to ACEs completely mediated the relationship between military family involvement and attempted suicide. The study results highlight the need for trauma-informed approaches to mental health promotion with military families.
K1 mental health and violence
K1 Domestic Violence
K1 children exposed to domestic violence
K1 family issues and mediators
K1 Child Abuse
DO 10.1177/0886260519900976