Citation

Stanley IH, Buchman-Schmitt JM, Chu C, Rogers ML, Gai AR, Wagner RK, Gutierrez PM, Joiner TE. Assessment 2019; 26(6): 963-975.

Affiliation

1 Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL, USA.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2019, SAGE Publishing)

DOI

10.1177/1073191118777635

PMID

29847993

Abstract

Suicide rates within the U.S. military are elevated, necessitating greater efforts to identify those at increased risk. This study utilized a multigroup confirmatory factor analysis to examine measurement invariance of the Military Suicide Research Consortium Common Data Elements (CDEs) across current service members ( n = 2,015), younger veterans (<35 years; n = 377), and older veterans (≥35 years; n = 1,001). Strong factorial invariance was supported with adequate model fit observed for current service members, younger veterans, and older veterans. The structures of all models were generally comparable with few exceptions. The Military Suicide Research Consortium CDEs demonstrate at least adequate model fit for current military service members and veterans, regardless of age. Thus, the CDEs can be validly used across military and veteran populations. Given similar latent structures, research findings in one group may inform clinical and policy decision making for the other.

Language: en

Keywords

CDEs; Common Data Elements; MSRC; Military Suicide Research Consortium; suicide risk