Abstract [eng] |
High suicide rates in Lithuania, the cultural context of trauma and the prevalence of traumatic experiences, as well as heavy alcohol consumption, indicate the need for research examining these relations. The aim of this study was to determine the links between post-traumatic stress, alcohol use and suicide. Research participants: 1395 subjects, age 18-92 (M = 42.41, SD = 16.48), 32.6 % men (n = 455) and 67.4 % women (n = 940) living in Lithuanian cities, towns and villages. Instruments used: Suicidal Ideation Attributes Scale (SIDAS), Trauma Screening Questionnaire (TSQ), AUDIT short version (AUDIT-C) and demographic questions. The results showed that 19.8% of the sample are at risk of suicide; a significant positive association was found between suicide and post-traumatic stress symptoms (rs = 0.16; p < 0.001), between suicide and alcohol use (rs = 0.12; p < 0.001). No association was found between post-traumatic stress disorder and alcohol use (rs = - 0.05; p = 0.060). Controlling for sex, age and education, it was found that the severity of post-traumatic stress symptoms was a significant predictor of suicide (OR = 1.19; p = 0.002). Conclusion: this study found associations between suicidality and post-traumatic stress. |