Suicidal ideation and hopelessness in PTSD: spiritual well-being mediates outcomes over time. Issue 1 (2nd January 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Florez, Ivonne Andrea; Allbaugh, Lucy J.; Harris, Catherine E.; Schwartz, Ann C.; Kaslow, Nadine J.
• Is Part Of: Anxiety, stress, and coping. Volume 31:Issue 1(2018)
• Page Start: 46
• Page End: 58
• Publication Date: 2018-01-02
• Subjects: Existential well-being -- hopelessness -- meaning in life -- post-traumatic stress disorder -- suicidal ideation -- spirituality; Anxiety -- Periodicals; Anxiety -- Research -- Periodicals; Anxiety -- periodicals; Stress -- periodicals; Adaptation, Psychological -- periodicals; 616.8522
• DOI: 10.1080/10615806.2017.1369260
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1061-5806

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Background: There is an increased interest in understanding the mechanisms through which post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) relates with hopelessness and suicidal ideation. Spiritual well-being could help explain the link between PTSD and both hopelessness and suicidal ideation in African Americans. However, no study has examined the mediational role of existential and religious well-being among these variables. Objectives: To examine if initial levels of existential and religious well-being mediated the relation between levels of PTSD symptoms and prospective levels of hopelessness and suicidal ideation in a sample of African American females. Design: The study used a longitudinal design with a 10-week time interval. Methods: The sample comprised of 113 disadvantaged African American women survivors of a recent suicide attempt recruited from a southern hospital. Self-report measures of PTSD symptoms, hopelessness, suicidal ideation, and spiritual well-being were administered to examine the variables of interest. Bootstrapping techniques were used to test the mediational models. Results: Existential, but not religious well-being, mediated the relationship between levels of PTSD symptoms severity and both levels of hopelessness and suicidal ideation over time. Conclusions: Existential well-being appears to play a promising protective role against the negative effects of PTSD on both hopelessness and suicidal ideation.