A Preliminary Study for Exploring Different Sources of Guilt in a Sample of Veterans Who Sought Chaplaincy Services |
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| Authors: | Marek S. Kopacz Janet M. McCarten C. Garland Vance April L. Connery |
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| Affiliation: | 1. U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, VISN 2 Center of Excellence for Suicide Prevention, Canandaigua, New Yorkmarek.kopacz@va.gov;3. U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, VISN 2 Center of Excellence for Suicide Prevention, Canandaigua, New York;4. U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Charles George VA Medical Center, Asheville, North Carolina;5. U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Canandaigua VA Medical Center, Canandaigua, New York |
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| Abstract: | Limited research has suggested that experiencing guilt may contribute to the risk of suicidal behavior in some veteran populations. Using data collected by chaplains, this study compared the frequency with which 94 veterans with a history of suicide ideation experienced guilt relative to 670 veterans without a history of ideation. We then compared main sources of guilt reported by ideators and nonideators. Ideators reported experiencing guilt significantly more often than nonideators. No differences were noted for the source of guilt among those who reported frequently experiencing this emotion. Ideators with an infrequent experience of guilt significantly more often named life and the military as the main source of this emotion. Clinicians should be mindful of the need to appropriately assess for and address guilt among veterans at increased risk of suicide. A variety of sources, not limited only to military experiences, may contribute to a veteran’s sense of guilt. |
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| Keywords: | suicide veterans guilt |
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