Suicidal Ideation, Depression, Anxiety, Impulsivity, Self-Esteem, Emotional Regulation, Child Trauma and Hopelessness in Korean Military Soldiers.

Abstract

Background/Objectives: Suicide is the leading cause of death among South Korean military soldiers, accounting for more than 70% of all deaths. This issue is particularly relevant in the military context due to the nature of living in groups in a controlled environment. This study was conducted active-duty south Korean male soldiers aged 18 to 28 who were performing mandatory military service for one year and six months. Additionally, it compares and analyzes the differences in suicidal ideation and risk factors between military soldiers and a comparison group consisting of males in their 20s without military experience. Methods: This study included 248 Korean soldiers and 292 general controls, totaling 540 participants. The research instruments used for evaluation included the Beck Scale of Suicide Ideation (BSI), the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ-SF), the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (DERS-16), the Barratt Impulsiveness Scale Version 11 (BIS-11), the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (RSES), the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), the Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-item scale (GAD-7), the UCLA Loneliness Scale (UCLAS), and the State-Beck Hopelessness Scale (S-BHS). Results: The results of this study showed that suicidal ideation, depression, anxiety, impulsivity, and self-esteem were significantly higher in the military group compared to the comparison group. Conversely, emotional dysregulation was considerably lower in the soldiers than in the comparison group. No significant differences were found in childhood trauma, stress, loneliness, and hopelessness between the two groups. Multiple regression analysis within the military group revealed that childhood trauma, hopelessness, and depression were major factors influencing suicidal ideation. Conclusions: These findings will help identify risk factors for suicide among soldiers and develop effective intervention strategies to prevent it.