Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 28, 2026

Chronic Social Defeat Stress in Early Adolescent Male Mice
Published on: January 24, 2025
Psychosocial factors associated with suicidal ideation among young men exempted from compulsory military or civil
Kaija Appelqvist-Schmidlechner1, Markus Henriksson, Matti Joukamaa
1National Institute for Health and Welfare, Helsinki, Finland. kaija.appelqvist@thl.fi
Aims:
The aim of this study was to identify factors associated with suicidal ideation among young men exempted from compulsory military or civil service in Finland.
Methods:
The study involved a total of 356 men exempted from military or civil service. The research data were collected using questionnaires and register data.
Results:
One third of the young men exempted from compulsory military or civil service reported serious suicidal ideation. Of the men with serious suicidal ideation, one third had attempted suicide. Various childhood adversities and current stressful life events and problems were associated with suicidal ideation. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that the following factors were independently associated with suicidal ideation: maternal alcohol-related problems, changes in the family, discord with the boss over the past 12 months, and lack of social support. Accumulation of problems predicted suicidal ideation.
Conclusions:
Men exempted from compulsory military or civil service comprise an important target group in the prevention of suicide. In order to prevent suicidal behaviour among young men at risk, it is important to address the significance of social support and relationships, and likewise to be aware of early risk indicators such as maternal alcohol-related problems.
Related Concept Videos
Psychological and Sociocultural Causes of Schizophrenia
Depressive Disorders: Etiology
Biological Factors in Depression
Biological predispositions significantly influence the risk of developing depressive disorders. Genetic studies highlight the role of variations in the serotonin transporter...
Antisocial Personality Disorder
Behavioral Characteristics and...
Psychosurgery
Historical Development of Psychosurgery
In the 1930s, Portuguese neurologist Antonio Egas Moniz introduced a surgical procedure designed...
Cognitive Dissonance
Amebiasis
