The effects of loneliness and suicidal ideation on U.S. Veterans

Abstract: U.S. veterans suffer from a disproportional rate of suicide compared to their civilian counterparts. The purpose of this study was to understand the significance of loneliness and suicidal ideation among the U.S. military veteran population. Another aim was to explain the relationship, if any, between these variables. Three critical research questions related to veteran loneliness, suicidal ideation, and status were examined. The social ecological model was chosen as the theoretical framework because it considers multiple levels of influence (e.g., social belonging, social wellness, and gregarious activity) on an individual’s outcome. Data from 6,371 respondents who completed the 2009 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) were analyzed as part of the study’s cross sectional quantitative secondary research design. Logistic regression and descriptive statistics were used to identify the association between the study variables (veteran status, suicidal ideation, loneliness, age, depression, poverty, and gender). The results for all three research questions were not statistically significant. However, the results indicate that depression plays a significant role in suicidal ideation for veterans. Furthermore, the findings demonstrate that loneliness and suicidal ideation are strongly related in the general population. The study may contribute to positive social change by clarifying the connections between depression, loneliness, and suicide among the study population. With this knowledge, stakeholders may be able to craft health policies that save veterans’ lives.