The Military Suicide Research Consortium Common Data Elements: An Examination of Measurement Invariance Across Current Service Members and Veterans

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.

Military Suicide Research Consortium common data elements: Bifactor analysis and longitudinal predictive ability of suicidal ideation and suicide attempts within a clinical sample.

“…The model providing adequate fit consisted of first-order CDE scales (i.e., anxiety sensitivity, alcohol use, suicidal ideation, thwarted belongingness, insomnia, PTSD symptoms, suicidal behavior, and suicidal intent) and a second-order factor of overarching suicide risk. The factor structure confirmed by Stanley, Buchman-Schmitt et al (2019) was largely consistent with the structure identified by Ringer et al (2018) via EFA, as it confirmed the scale-specific factors identified by Ringer and colleagues (2018) that were included in the CFA. The Stanley, Buchman-Schmitt et al (2019) findings provided preliminary support for the construct validity of the CDEs, suggesting that they do, indeed, assess overarching suicide risk, as designed, in addition to their scale-specific constructs (e.g., thwarted belongingness).…”

“…The factor structure confirmed by Stanley, Buchman-Schmitt et al (2019) was largely consistent with the structure identified by Ringer et al (2018) via EFA, as it confirmed the scale-specific factors identified by Ringer and colleagues (2018) that were included in the CFA. The Stanley, Buchman-Schmitt et al (2019) findings provided preliminary support for the construct validity of the CDEs, suggesting that they do, indeed, assess overarching suicide risk, as designed, in addition to their scale-specific constructs (e.g., thwarted belongingness). Additionally, Stanley, Buchman-Schmitt et al (2019) demonstrated that the first-and second-order factor structure of the CDEs was largely consistent across military populations (current service members, younger veterans, and older veterans).…”

“…The Stanley, Buchman-Schmitt et al (2019) findings provided preliminary support for the construct validity of the CDEs, suggesting that they do, indeed, assess overarching suicide risk, as designed, in addition to their scale-specific constructs (e.g., thwarted belongingness). Additionally, Stanley, Buchman-Schmitt et al (2019) demonstrated that the first-and second-order factor structure of the CDEs was largely consistent across military populations (current service members, younger veterans, and older veterans).…”

Machine Learning to Classify Suicidal Thoughts and Behaviors: Implementation Within the Common Data Elements Used by the Military Suicide Research Consortium

“…Data from the MSRC’s CDE were used for the current study (sample size varied from 5,977 to 6,058 depending on outcome; see Table 1). As described elsewhere (see Ringer et al, 2018; Stanley et al, 2019), the Department of Defense employs the MSRC to determine allocation of funds to investigators via a grant-review process (https://msrc.fsu.edu). The express purpose of MSRC-funded studies is aimed toward the understanding and prevention of suicide and suicide-related outcomes in military members, veterans, or related groups.…”

Examining the link between prior suicidality and subsequent suicidal ideation among high-risk US military service members

“…Due to the need for a brief survey battery to minimize participant burden, the main investigation used the Military Suicide Research Consortium's Common Data Elements (MSRC CDEs) to assess alcohol abuse, anxiety sensitivity, hopelessness, insomnia, post-traumatic stress symptoms, and thwarted belongingness (see Ringer et al ., 2018 and Stanley et al ., 2018 for details regarding the development of the MSRC CDEs using factor analyses and their validation in a military sample).…”