A structural equation model on some influencing factors of suicide ideation among military personnel

Abstract

Objective To explore the relationship among personality traits, aggression, depression, anxiety and suicide ideation by developing a structural equation model. Methods A total of 2 141 participants derived from a stratified random cluster sampling were investigated with Eysenck personality questionnaire(EPQ), aggression questionnaire(AQ), patient health questionnaire depression scale(PHQ-9) , generalized anxiety disorder scale(GAD-7) and Beck depression inventory(BDI-13). Results In EPQ, the scores of neuroticism, extroversion and psychoticism were (40.00±5.84), (59.84±7.02)and (36.63±6.41) respectively. In AQ, the scores of physical aggression, verbal aggression and anger were (32.41±5.15), (30.43±7.24), and (34.39±6.09) respectively. The median scores of PHQ-9 and GAD-7 were 5 and 6, and the inter-quartile range were 4 and 5. The suicide ideation was correlated with measurement indicator respectively(r=-0.19-0.40, P<0.01). Aggression and depression directly affected suicide ideation(direct effect was 0.27, 0.24 respectively) and aggression indirectly affected suicide ideation trough anxiety(indirect effect was 0.02). Personality traits indirectly affected suicide ideation through aggression, anxiety and depression(indirect effect was 0.40). Anxiety indirectly affected suicide ideation through depression(indirect effect was 0.13). Conclusion Personality traits, aggression, anxiety and depression affect suicide ideation, and these factors have different effecting mechanism. Key words: Personality traits; Aggression; Depression; Anxiety; Suicide ideation