The Role of Psychological Disorders, Family Functioning and Occupational Factors on Self-harming Behaviors by the Mediating Role of Depression among Shiraz Military Personnel

Document Type : Original Research

Authors

1 Assistant Professor, Department of Clinical Psychology, Faculty of Education and Psychology, Shiraz University, Shiraz, Iran

2 Assistant Professor, Department of Clinical Psychology, Faculty of Humanity and Social Sciences, University of Kurdistan, Sanandaj, Iran

Abstract

Background and Aim: Self-harming behaviors are one of the main problems of the military personnel. The aim of the current study was to investigate the role of psychological disorders, personality disorders, occupational and family variables in self-injuring behaviors of the Iranian army force personnel in Shiraz city.
Method: This research was a descriptive-correlational study which was conducted on military staff members living in Shiraz, Iran, in 2016. Availability sampling was the method for choosing subjects. Data were collected using Suicide Behavior Questionnaire- Revised (SBQ-R), Self-Harm Inventory (SHI), Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II), Milon Clinical Multi Axis Inventory-III (MCMI-III), Family Assessment Device (FAD), Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI), Bery Fild and Roth Job Satisfaction Inventory and Job Stress Questionnaire. Data were analyzed using SPSS-21 software and Structural Equation Modeling (SEM).
Results: The mean age of 215 army personnel was 31.07±4.71 years old. Findings showed that the Measurement Model wasn’t fit, and then some modification was done. Also in the Structural Model with regard to fitness and modification indices some paths (Personality disorders and anxiety disorders) were removed from the model in order to increase the fitness. Moreover, findings showed depression (β=0.79, p<001, t=7.74), occupational factors (β=0.79, p<001, t=5.52) and family factors (β=0.67, p<001, t=2.92) had a significant and direct effect on self-injuring behaviors. Also occupational factors (β=0.62, p<001, t=8.09), and family functions (β=0.69, p<001, t=4.21) had a significant and direct effect on depression. By mediating depression (β=0.49) and family functioning (β=0.46), occupational factors had an indirect effect on self-injuring behaviors.
Conclusion: It can be concluded that depression, job burnout and family functioning are effective variables on self-injuring behaviors of army force personnel.

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