Combat experience, new-onset mental health conditions, and posttraumatic growth in U.S. service members
Research Report:
Research SummaryAPA Citation:
Jacobson, I. G., Adler, A. B., Roenfeldt, K. A., Porter, B., LeardMann, C. A., Rull, R. P., & Hoge, C. W. (2021). Combat experience, new-onset mental health conditions, and posttraumatic growth in U.S. service members. Psychiatry: Interpersonal and Biological Processes. 84(3), 276-290. https://doi.org./10.1080/00332747.2021.1929770
Abstract Created by REACH:
Posttraumatic growth (PTG) is the idea that traumatic experiences may elicit resilience (i.e., growth), thus enabling better psychological adjustment. This study examined PTG over time (before deployment and 3 years later after deployment) and how combat severity, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and depression might play a role in PTG. Using data from 8,732 Service members from the Millennium Cohort Study, a series of analyses were conducted to examine whether combat severity, PTSD, and depression were related to changes in PTG (i.e., low, moderate, high). In contrast to prevailing notions of PTG, little evidence emerged to support the notion that experiencing a traumatic event, such as combat, can lead to PTG.
Focus:
Deployment
Mental health
Trauma
Branch of Service:
Air Force
Navy
Army
Marine Corps
Multiple branches
Military Affiliation:
Active Duty
Guard
Reserve
Subject Affiliation:
Active duty service member
Guard/Reserve member
Population:
Adulthood (18 yrs & older)
Methodology:
Quantitative Study
Authors:
Jacobson, Isabel G., Adler, Amy B., Roenfeldt, Kimberly A., Porter, Ben, LeardMann, Cynthia A., Rull, Rudolph P., Hoge, Charles W.
Abstract:
Objective: Studies examining posttraumatic growth (PTG) rely on surveys evaluating PTG in relation to prior traumatic experiences, resulting in psychometric problems due to the linkage of the dependent and independent variables. Few studies have assessed PTG following combat deployment while also controlling for mental health problems.Method: Longitudinal data on PTG, combat experience, and mental health were examined among U.S. Millennium Cohort Study deployers (n = 8732). Scores from a short-form (SF) version of the PTG inventory assessing current-state beliefs (C-PTGI-SF) independent of any predictor variables were assessed at time 1 (T1), before deployment, and change in scores were assessed approximately 3 years later after deployment at time 2 (T2). All participants screened negative for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression at T1.Results: Combat deployment severity was associated with a worsening of C-PTGI-SF scores at T2 among participants with moderate C-PTGI-SF scores at T1. A positive screen for comorbid PTSD/depression was associated with a worsening of C-PTGI-SF scores at T2 among participants with moderate or high C-PTGI-SF scores at T1. At T2, a strong inverse correlation was found between C-PTGI-SF scores and PTSD (r = -0.38) and depression (-0.41). Only 5% of participants who screened positive for a mental health problem at T2 (23/517) also experienced positive growth.Conclusions: These results challenge the clinical utility of the PTG construct. While PTG may be a useful framework for supporting trauma recovery on an individual basis, PTG does not appear to be distinct and independent from the negative psychological impact of traumatic experiences.
Publisher/Sponsoring Organization:
Taylor & Francis
Publication Type:
Article
REACH Publication
Keywords:
Millennium Cohort Study, posttraumatic growth (PTG), traumatic experiences, combat deployment
REACH Publication Type:
Research Summary
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