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Longitudinal Relationships Between Eating-Disorder Psychopathology and Suicidality in a Nationally Representative Sample of Veterans
Richson, Brianne
Richson, Brianne
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Abstract
Introduction: Military veterans may be at unique risk for elevated suicidal thoughts and behaviors (i.e., suicidality) as well as elevated eating-disorder (ED) psychopathology. Suicidality is common among individuals with clinical EDs and subclinical levels of disordered eating. Despite veterans being at risk for both suicidality and ED psychopathology, no studies have examined the relationship between aspects of ED psychopathology and suicidality in veterans. Highlighting specific aspects of ED psychopathology associated with increased suicidality could inform suicide prevention and screening efforts in veteran healthcare. Method: United States veterans that separated from military service within the past year (N=533) completed self-report questionnaires assessing ED psychopathology and internalizing symptoms at baseline, three-, and six-month follow-up. Bivariate latent change score analyses examined the longitudinal relationship between self-reported suicidality and aspects of ED psychopathology. Results: Several aspects of ED psychopathology (purging, binge eating, muscle building) demonstrated increasing change trajectories over time. No bidirectional relationships were observed between any aspect of ED psychopathology and suicidality. Two significant unidirectional relationships were observed. Muscle building significantly predicted suicidality change, such that higher muscle building at baseline predicted suicidality decreases over six-month follow-up. Suicidality predicted changes in body dissatisfaction, such that higher suicidality predicted body dissatisfaction decreases. Dysthymia and traumatic stress symptoms attenuated the effect of muscle building on suicidality change, but strengthened the effect of suicidality on body dissatisfaction. Conclusion: Results suggest that ED psychopathology is not a risk factor for increases in suicidality in the year following separation from military service, nor is suicidality associated with changes in most aspects of ED psychopathology. (Word count: 256 words)
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2023-01-01
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University of Kansas
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Keywords
Clinical psychology, Military studies, disordered eating, eating disorders, suicide, veterans