Family Maltreatment, Substance Problems, and Suicidality: Prevalence Surveillance and Ecological Risk/Protective Factors Models
Abstract
Of the many concerns about AF's force behavioral health protection, AF commanders identify secretive problems (family maltreatment, suicidality, and problematic alcohol/drug use) as 3 of the top 5 concerns. These problems are prevalent - the PRMRP-funded pilot study for the current proposal revealed that 25% of AF members reported at least one secretive problem at a serious level, yet only 1 out of 6 of these airmen report that anyone in the AF knows that they are having problems. Yet, the AF currently has no system to routinely track prevalences. Further, enormous gaps exist in our knowledge about risk and protective factors for these problems, especially in military communities. This study seeks to derive and validate an innovative public health surveillance system. Years of pilot work with the AF found that it is possible to derive accurate complex statistical estimation algorithms from data sets containing both nonsensitive information and assessments of secretive problems. These algorithms can then be applied to data sets that do not directly assess secretive problems to accurately estimate problem prevalences. In other words, a single survey administration and the algorithms can obviate the need for future secretive behavior surveys, making this a cost effective and sustainable planning tool. Further, the data set to be used for algorithm derivation will also be ideal to test a series of specific hypotheses about individual, family, workplace, and community risk and protective factors for each of the secretive problems.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Apr 01, 2010
- Accession Number
- ADA533842
Entities
People
- Amy M. Slep
- Richard E Heyman
Organizations
- State University of New York