| Abstract [eng] |
Suicidal behaviour is highly prevalent in correctional facilities, and therefore incarceration increases the risk of exposure to such behaviour. Exposure to suicidal behaviour by others may be experienced as a potentially traumatic event and may be associated with poorer mental health outcomes. The aim of this study was to examine the associations between exposure to suicidal behaviour, post-traumatic stress symptoms, and suicidality in a sample of incarcerated individuals. The study included 290 men serving prison sentences in seven Lithuanian prisons, ranging in age from 18 to 82 years (M = 38.2, SD = 11.6). The study employed a questionnaire assessing experiences of exposure to suicidal behaviour, the Suicidal Behaviors Questionnaire–Revised (SBQ-R), the Impact of Event Scale–Revised (IES-R), and sociodemographic questions. The findings indicated that 75.7% of participants had been exposed to another person’s suicidal behaviour within a correctional institution, and nearly half reported that such exposure had subjectively affected them. Greater suicidality was observed among participants who had experienced exposure to others’ suicidal behaviour, perceived the exposure as impactful, experienced direct exposure, and reported more frequent exposure. The results further demonstrated that nearly one quarter of participants who reported being subjectively affected by exposure to another person’s suicidal behaviour were at risk for post-traumatic stress disorder. Higher levels of post-traumatic stress symptoms were observed among participants who had shared living quarters with the person whose suicidal behaviour had subjectively affected them. Intrusion symptoms were more strongly expressed among individuals who had experienced direct exposure to suicidal behaviour, whereas hyperarousal symptoms were more pronounced among those who had experienced more frequent exposure. Higher levels of post-traumatic stress symptoms were associated with higher levels of suicidality. Furthermore, greater suicidality was predicted by direct exposure through the mediating role of post-traumatic intrusion symptoms and by more frequent exposure through the mediating role of post-traumatic hyperarousal symptoms. The findings highlight the importance of providing psychological support to incarcerated individuals exposed to the suicidal behaviour of others and of assessing suicide risk and post-traumatic stress symptoms, particularly in cases of direct and frequent exposure to suicidal behaviour. |
