Date
8-20-2026
Department
School of Behavioral Sciences
Degree
Doctor of Education in Community Care and Counseling (EdD)
Chair
Lynn Bohecker
Keywords
combat veteran, rural veteran, veteran suicide, rural veteran suicide, suicide prevention
Disciplines
Counseling
Recommended Citation
Muratorri, Kelly, "A Study of Combat Veterans Residing in Rural Communities Who Have Experienced Suicidality After Discharge" (2026). Doctoral Dissertations and Projects. 8734.
https://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/doctoral/8734
Abstract
The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study was to understand the lived experiences of combat veterans residing in rural communities who experienced suicidal ideation following discharge from military service. The central research question guiding this study was, What are the lived experiences of combat veterans who reside in rural areas and have contemplated suicide since discharge? The theories guiding this study were Joiner’s interpersonal theory of suicide, which emphasizes perceived burdensomeness, thwarted belongingness, and acquired capability for suicide, and Shneidman’s theory of psychache, which highlights the intolerable psychological pain that often is an underlying factor of suicidal behavior. Although there are multiple theories of suicide, these two theories focus on important factors that may be unique to military veterans who experienced combat during deployment and live in isolated rural areas after discharge. The sample included combat veterans residing in rural communities in the United States. Data collection was through two individual, semistructured interviews to obtain rich and thick data of their experiences and a member checking interview. Data analysis followed the seven-step process outlined in Moustakas’ (1994) transcendental phenomenology to identify emerging themes and capture the essence of participants’ experiences. Findings and a discussion of how the findings contribute to the limited body of qualitative literature were presented with implications for counselors who serve veterans in rural communities, and inform counseling practices and prevention strategies for veterans navigating the combined challenges of combat history and rural community life.
