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. 2025 Jan 2;37(1):85-94.
doi: 10.1080/08995605.2024.2307669. Epub 2024 Jan 31.

Loneliness partially mediates the relation between substance use and suicidality in Veterans

Katherine Musacchio Schafer  1   2 , Emma Wilson-Lemoine  3   4 , Marie Campione  3 , Sean Dougherty  3 , Ruth Melia  3   5 , Thomas Joiner  3
Affiliations

Loneliness partially mediates the relation between substance use and suicidality in Veterans

Katherine Musacchio Schafer et al. Mil Psychol. .

Abstract

America has experienced a rapid increase in loneliness, substance use, and suicidality. This increase is particularly deleterious for Veterans, who, as compared to nonmilitary-connected civilians, experience elevated rates of loneliness, substance use, and suicidality. In this project we investigated the link between loneliness, substance use, and suicidality, paying particular attention to the mediational role of loneliness between substance use and suicidality. 1,469 Veterans (male, n = 1004, 67.2%; female, n = 457, 32.3%; transgender/non-binary/prefer not to say, n = 8, 0.5%) answered online surveys in the Mental Health and Well-Being Project. Items assessed participants on psychosocial antecedents of health and wellness. Pearson correlations and mediational models were used to determine if loneliness, substance use, and suicidality were related and if loneliness mediated the link between substance use and suicidality. Results indicated that loneliness, substance use, and suicidality were significantly and positively related (rs = .33-.42, ps < .01). Additionally, loneliness partially mediated the link between substance use and suicidality (β = .08 [.06-.10]), suggesting that, within the context of substance use in Veterans, loneliness may account for significant variance in suicidality. Together findings suggest the Veterans Health Administration should support, fund, and study community engagement activities that could reduce the development or intensity of substance use, loneliness, and suicidality in Veterans.

Keywords: Substance use; Veterans; loneliness; suicidality.

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Conflict of interest statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
Mediation Model of loneliness between substance use and suicidality.
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