Personal Technology Use and Thwarted Belongingness Among Suicidal Active-Duty Military Personnel

Abstract

This study (a) provides descriptive information about the personal technology use of a suicide sample of active-duty military personnel and (b) uses a traditional and a technology-based measure of social connectedness to examine their relation to suicide ideation and behaviors. Higher thwarted belongingness, and therefore lower perceived social connectedness, was associated with higher current and worst suicide ideation and a greater lifetime self-directed violence regardless of intent to die. Higher social connectedness based on personal technology usage was associated with higher current suicide ideation and a higher number of lifetime self-directed violence and suicide attempts.