The Impact of Combat Exposure on Suicidal Behavior Among U.S. Military Personnel: The Moderating Roles of Moral Injury and Stigma

This study analyzed data from the Military Health and Well-being Project (MHWBP) to examine the influence of combat exposure on suicidal behavior among U.S. military personnel with combat experience, focusing on the moderated effects of moral injury and stigma. Data from 1,495 service members were analyzed, revealing significant correlations among the variables. The Process Macro was employed to assess the impact of moral injury and stigma on suicidal behavior. Furthermore, moderated moderation analyses were conducted, revealing that combat experience had a stronger relationship on suicidal behavior among individuals with high levels of moral injury and stigma. These findings shed light on the interacting factors through which combat exposure affects suicidal behavior among military personnel and are discussed in terms of their implications, limitations, and future research directions.