The use of avoidance coping strategies by individuals to decrease stressors and minimize negative consequences can lead to stress generation and maladaptive forms of social functioning. In student veterans, avoidant coping has been associated with increased symptoms of generalized anxiety disorder and posttraumatic stress disorder. Literature has suggested that post-9/11 student veterans tend to default to avoidance coping strategies when they face academic problems and social difficulties since maladaptive patterns of social functioning can have a significant negative impact on the postsecondary education of returning veterans. It is possible that the academic underperformance and higher dropout rates of post-9/11 student veterans could be associated with their utilization of avoidance coping strategies. While the amount of research into veteran transitions has increased in the past 10 years, little has been revealed about the lived college experiences of post-9/11 student veterans and their coping behaviors. This study aimed to examine the lived experiences, academic challenges, social struggles, and coping strategies of post-9/11 student veterans. More specifically, I examined their coping strategies as they attempted to overcome challenges during their first year of college after separating from the military. All nine participants were enrolled at the same large, Midwestern, public research university. The participants were between the ages of 23 and 43 years old and included post-9/11 veterans that were true first-time, undergraduate students with previous college credit. Participant responses yielded four predominant themes: (a) lack of identification as veterans, (b) an absence of relationships with other veterans, (c) participants used positive coping approaches, and (d) avoidance and negative coping approaches. Because the study was conducted during the COVID-19 pandemic, the possible impact of pandemic isolation on the participants must be acknowledged.
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Qualitative study examining the college experiences and coping mechanisms of post-9/11 student veterans conducted during the COVID-19 pandemic
APA Citation:
Fegley, M. A. (2024). Qualitative study examining the college experiences and coping mechanisms of post-9/11 student veterans conducted during the COVID-19 pandemic. 10(1), 64-75. https://doi.org/10.21061/jvs.v10i1.422
Focus:
Mental health
Branch of Service:
Multiple branches
Military Affiliation:
Veteran
Population:
Adulthood (18 yrs & older)
Young adulthood (18 - 29 yrs)
Thirties (30 - 39 yrs)
Middle age (40 - 64 yrs)
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Research
Fegley, Mark A.
2024
Influence of hardiness, avoidance coping, and combat exposure on depression in returning war veterans: A moderated-mediation study
APA Citation:
Bartone, P. T., & Homish, G. G. (2020). Influence of hardiness, avoidance coping, and combat exposure on depression in returning war veterans: A moderated-mediation study. Journal of Affective Disorders, 265, 511–518. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2020.01.127
Focus:
Deployment
Mental health
Trauma
Branch of Service:
Army
Marine Corps
Multiple branches
Military Affiliation:
Guard
Population:
Adulthood (18 yrs & older)
Young adulthood (18 - 29 yrs)
Thirties (30 - 39 yrs)
Middle age (40 - 64 yrs)
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Research
Bartone, Paul T.; Homish, Gregory G.
2020
Background Depression is a serious problem among military personnel returning from combat deployments, and is related to a range of adverse outcomes including alcohol and drug abuse, family violence and suicide. The present study explores how psychological hardiness, avoidance coping, and combat stress exposure may influence depression in U.S. Army soldiers returning from a one-year deployment to Afghanistan. Methods National Guard soldiers (N = 357) completed surveys upon their return to home station, including measures of hardiness, avoidance coping, combat exposure, and depression. Path analysis with ordinary least squares regression procedures (PROCESS program; Hayes, 2013) were applied to test for mediation and moderation effects among the study variables. Results: Results showed a pattern of moderated-mediation. In the mediation model, hardiness had a significant effect on depression, which was mediated by avoidance coping. Soldiers low in hardiness reported using more avoidance coping strategies, which was related to increased depression. This effect in turn was seen to be conditional, moderated by level of combat exposure such that the effect was stronger at high levels of exposure. Limitations Data are cross-sectional, and the sample consisted of male soldiers only, which may limit generalizability. Conclusions Depression and related problems among combat veterans may be diminished by applying training programs and policies aimed at increasing hardiness attitudes and active coping skills.
Correlates of avoidance coping in trauma-exposed U.S. military veterans: Results from the National Health and Resilience in Veterans Study
APA Citation:
Korem, N., Ben-Zion, Z., Spiller, T. R., Duek, O. A., Harpaz-Rotem, I., & Pietrzak, R. H. (2023). Correlates of avoidance coping in trauma-exposed U.S. military veterans: Results from the National Health and Resilience in Veterans Study. Journal of Affective Disorders, 339, 89–97. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2023.07.036
Focus:
Trauma
Veterans
Mental health
Branch of Service:
Multiple branches
Military Affiliation:
Veteran
Population:
Adulthood (18 yrs & older)
Young adulthood (18 - 29 yrs)
Thirties (30 - 39 yrs)
Middle age (40 - 64 yrs)
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Research
Korem, Nachshon; Ben-Zion, Ziv; Spiller, Tobias R.; Duek, Or A.; Harpaz-Rotem, Ilan; Pietrzak, Robert H.
2023
Avoidant coping strategies, which involve cognitions and behaviors aimed to avoid dealing with stressful experiences, are associated with adverse long-term mental and physical health outcomes. In response to traumatic events, these strategies can be maladaptive as they may interfere with the adaptive integration of traumatic events into consolidated memories. Using data from a nationally representative sample of more than 3000 trauma-exposed U.S. military veterans (mean time since trauma 30.9 years, SD = 19.9), we employed a network analytic approach to examine pairwise associations between key sociodemographic, personality, and psychosocial risk factors in relation to the endorsement of avoidant coping strategies. Results revealed that negative affect symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and adverse childhood experiences were positively associated with engagement in avoidance coping, and that greater emotional stability and conscientiousness were negatively associated with this measure. Secondary network analysis of individual negative affect symptoms of PTSD suggested that blaming oneself and/or others for the traumatic event, emotional neglect, and sexual abuse were most strongly linked to avoidance coping. Collectively, these results suggest that strong feelings of blame related to trauma, emotional neglect, and sexual abuse are associated with greater likelihood of engaging in avoidance coping, while emotional stability and conscientiousness are associated with a lower likelihood of engaging in such strategies.
Longitudinal changes in combat-related posttraumatic stress disorder among Operation Enduring Freedom/Operation Iraqi Freedom/Operation New Dawn veterans with hazardous alcohol use: The role of avoidance coping
APA Citation:
Lee, J., Possemato, K., & Ouimette, P. C. (2017). Longitudinal changes in combat-related posttraumatic stress disorder among Operation Enduring Freedom/Operation Iraqi Freedom/Operation New Dawn Veterans with hazardous alcohol use: The role of avoidance coping. The Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease, 205(10), 805-808. doi:10.1097/NMD.0000000000000713
Focus:
Mental health
Substance use
Veterans
Branch of Service:
Multiple branches
Population:
Adulthood (18 yrs & older)
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Research & Summary
Lee, Joohyun; Possemato, Kyle; Ouimette, Paige C.
2017
Military personnel who have experienced combat trauma are at risk for developing posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). A greater recognition of the complex array of vulnerability factors that contribute to PTSD severity has led researchers to examine other non-combat-related factors. This longitudinal study examined a number of pre-, peri-, and postdeployment factors hypothesized to contribute to PTSD symptomatology among returning Operation Enduring Freedom/Operation Iraqi Freedom/Operation New Dawn veterans presenting with at least subthreshold PTSD symptoms and hazardous alcohol use in a primary care setting. Purported risk factors included childhood family environment, severity of combat exposure, postdeployment social support, alcohol dependence severity, and an avoidant coping style. At baseline, postdeployment social support and avoidant coping contributed to PTSD severity. Only avoidant coping was associated with changes in PTSD symptom at 1-year follow-up. Reducing avoidant coping may deter the maintenance of PTSD among veterans with PTSD symptoms and hazardous alcohol use.
Emotion expression, avoidance and psychological health during reintegration: A dyadic analysis of actor and partner associations within a sample of military couples
APA Citation:
Marini, C. M., Wadsworth, S. M., Christ, S. L., & Franks, M. M. (2015). Emotion expression, avoidance and psychological health during reintegration: A dyadic analysis of actor and partner associations within a sample of military couples. Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, 34(1), 69-90. doi:10.1177/0265407515621180
Focus:
Couples
Mental health
Branch of Service:
Army
Military Affiliation:
Guard
Population:
Adolescence (13 - 17 yrs)
Young adulthood (18 - 29 yrs)
Thirties (30 - 39 yrs)
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Research & Summary
Marini, Christina M.; Wadsworth, Shelley M.; Christ, Sharon L.; Franks, Melissa M.
2017
We evaluated the extent to which military service members’ and their significant others’ coping strategies (i.e., individual use of emotion expression and avoidance) were independently associated with their own—and each other’s—psychological health during reintegration using an actor–partner interdependence model. We simultaneously evaluated actor associations (e.g., associations between service members’ own coping and psychological health) and partner associations (e.g., associations between service members’ coping and their significant others’ psychological health) with a sample of 175 National Guard couples who recently experienced deployment. We further evaluated (1) whether there were interactive associations among partners’ coping strategies and (2) whether service members’ level of combat exposure moderated any of these associations. Results indicated that, for both service members and significant others, psychological health was positively associated with one’s own emotion expression and negatively associated with one’s own avoidance. Moreover, there was a significant partner association between service members’ psychological health and their significant others’ emotion expression but only in the context of high combat exposure. Implications for intervention and prevention efforts are discussed.
6 Attachment, coping, and psychological symptoms among military veterans and active duty personnel
Attachment, coping, and psychological symptoms among military veterans and active duty personnel
APA Citation:
Romero, D. H., Riggs, S. A., Raiche, E., McGuffin, J., & Captari, L. E. (2020). Attachment, coping, and psychological symptoms among military veterans and active duty personnel. Anxiety, Stress, & Coping, 33(3), 326-341. https://doi.org/10.1080/10615806.2020.1723008
Focus:
Mental health
Veterans
Substance use
Branch of Service:
Multiple branches
Military Affiliation:
Active Duty
Veteran
Population:
Adulthood (18 yrs & older)
Young adulthood (18 - 29 yrs)
Thirties (30 - 39 yrs)
Middle age (40 - 64 yrs)
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Research
Romero, Daniel H.; Riggs, Shelley A.; Raiche, Emily; McGuffin, James; Captari, Laura E.
2020
Background and Objectives: Military service is a stressful occupation, including increased risk for psychological distress. In order to provide the best care for service members and veterans (SMVs), it is important to understand personality and behavioral patterns associated with negative outcomes. This study examined links between attachment processes, coping styles, problematic alcohol use and psychological distress. Design: Using a cross-sectional, correlational design, a multi-instrument survey was administered to participants either online or in-person. Methods: Veterans and active duty service members (N = 268) completed measures of adult attachment, coping styles, alcohol use, and psychological symptoms. Results: Attachment avoidance was positively associated with avoidant coping, alcohol use, depression, and PTSD symptoms, but negatively related to problem-focused coping. Attachment anxiety was associated with avoidant coping, depression, GAD, and PTSD symptoms. Avoidant coping, but not problem-focused coping, was associated with psychological symptoms, and significant indirect relationships were noted between insecure attachment processes, avoidant coping, and psychological symptoms. Conclusion: Findings highlight personality and behavioral factors that may be important treatment foci when working with SMVs. Future studies should evaluate this model using longitudinal designs.
Abusive supervision within the military ranks: A qualitative examination of positive emotion-focused coping strategies
APA Citation:
McDew, D. (2022). Abusive supervision within the military ranks: A qualitative examination of positive emotion-focused coping strategies [Doctoral dissertation, Abilene Christian University]. Digital Commons.
Focus:
Mental health
Branch of Service:
Army
Air Force
Navy
Marine Corps
Multiple branches
Military Affiliation:
Active Duty
Population:
Young adulthood (18 - 29 yrs)
Adulthood (18 yrs & older)
Thirties (30 - 39 yrs)
Middle age (40 - 64 yrs)
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Other
McDew, Demetrius; Smith, Donna
2022
In this study, the researcher examined abusive supervision coping by military members. Based on social exchange theory and the power and influence theory, the researcher investigated whether veterans perceived emotional coping (avoidance, support seeking, and reframing) as strategies that mitigated stress caused by abusive supervision while they were serving in their respective military departments. Past studies have not accounted for junior officers or enlisted members; therefore, the researcher studied this lower ranking tier of personnel and discovered that the hierarchy of the military system affected their reporting of and receiving assistance in dealing with abusive supervision. Therefore, affected service members were more likely to utilize emotion-focused coping strategies to maneuver the situation. The results of this study indicated that the military hierarchy and loyalty to the chain of command were deterrents to lower-ranking members reporting abusive supervision. In lieu of reporting the abuse, the employees were able to find relief by utilizing emotion-focused coping with a heavy reliance on avoidance of the destructive leader.
8 Coping, family social support, and psychological symptoms among student veterans
Coping, family social support, and psychological symptoms among student veterans
APA Citation:
Romero, D. H., Riggs, S. A., & Ruggero, C. (2015). Coping, family social support, and psychological symptoms among student veterans. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 62(2), 242–252. https://doi.org/10.1037/cou0000061
Focus:
Mental health
Other
Veterans
Branch of Service:
Multiple branches
Air Force
Army
Coast Guard
Navy
Marine Corps
Military Affiliation:
Veteran
Population:
Adulthood (18 yrs & older)
Young adulthood (18 - 29 yrs)
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Research & Summary
Romero, Daniel H.; Riggs, Shelley A.; Ruggero, Camilo
2015
With rising numbers of student veterans on today’s college campuses, multicultural competence in college counseling centers increasingly includes an understanding of military culture and its relation to the psychological health and functioning of student veterans. Research on interpersonal and intrapersonal factors associated with college student veterans’ mental health is scarce. The current study examines the contributions of coping style and family social support on symptoms of anxiety, depression, and posttraumatic stress in a student veteran sample. We also tested the moderating role of family social support in the relationship between coping style and psychological symptoms. Data from 136 student veterans were analyzed by using path analysis. Results revealed that avoidant coping and family social support significantly predicted depressive and anxiety symptoms. Avoidant coping also significantly predicted posttraumatic stress symptoms. In addition, findings indicated that family social support moderated the relationship between problem-focused coping and depression, as well as between avoidant coping and symptoms of anxiety and depression but not posttraumatic stress. Implications of results for college and university counselors are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2016 APA, all rights reserved)
9 Mental contamination, coping, and PTSD symptom severity following sexual trauma
Mental contamination, coping, and PTSD symptom severity following sexual trauma
APA Citation:
Tipsword, J. (2020). Mental contamination, coping, and PTSD symptom severity following sexual trauma. [University of Kentucky Libraries]. https://doi.org/10.13023/etd.2020.401
Focus:
Mental health
Trauma
Physical health
Population:
Adulthood (18 yrs & older)
Young adulthood (18 - 29 yrs)
Thirties (30 - 39 yrs)
Middle age (40 - 64 yrs)
Share the article
Other
Tipsword, Jordan M.; Badour, Christal, L.
2020
Mental contamination (MC) – an internal sense of dirtiness experienced without contact with a contaminant – has been linked to PTSD symptoms among sexual trauma survivors. However, existing work has been limited to cross-sectional or quasi-experimental designs – precluding conclusions concerning the directionality of associations among PTSD symptoms and MC – and little work has examined potential mediators of those associations. The present study utilized a prospective design to evaluate the directionality of associations between MC and PTSD symptoms and the role of avoidance and approach coping in mediating those associations. Participants included 41 women with a history of sexual trauma and current MC. Women completed baseline measures followed by fourteen days of twice-daily assessments via a mobile application. Results indicated that avoidance coping mediated the associations between baseline MC and average daily PTSD symptoms (β = 0.30, SE = 0.14, 95% CI [0.06 , 0.58]) and baseline PTSD symptoms and average daily MC (β = 0.33, SE = 0.16, 95% CI [0.08 , 0.67]). Our findings support a mutual maintenance model of PTSD symptoms and MC mediated by avoidance coping. However, additional research conducted over a more extended period is warranted to better understand how MC and PTSD symptoms mutually influence one another.
Moral coping or simply uncomplicated soldiering? How soldiers avoid moral injury through simplification, justification, rationalization, and compartmentalization
APA Citation:
Molendijk, T. (2023). Moral coping or simply uncomplicated soldiering? How soldiers avoid moral injury through simplification, justification, rationalization, and compartmentalization. Armed Forces & Society. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1177/0095327X231165910
Focus:
Trauma
Mental health
Branch of Service:
International Military
Military Affiliation:
Veteran
Population:
Adulthood (18 yrs & older)
Young adulthood (18 - 29 yrs)
Thirties (30 - 39 yrs)
Middle age (40 - 64 yrs)
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Research
Molendijk, Tine
2023
A substantial number of soldiers develop moral injuries, yet just as many do not. Therefore, it is important to explore the question: How do military service members generally interpret and cope with moral challenges related to their profession? This article analyzes the accounts of 80 (former) soldiers, examining how they perceived their profession and the coping strategies they tend to use in the face of moral challenges. The findings show that they generally did not experience as much moral tension as one might expect. Yet, when they did, they used coping strategies of simplification, justification, and rationalization, including doing good, rules and instructions, reciprocity, numbing, and compartmentalization. This leads to a middle position between the view that military personnel never experience moral challenges and the position that they find violence actually highly problematic, with important implications for research on moral injury, trauma, and soldiers’ experience.
11 Couples coping through deployment: Findings from a sample of national guard families
Couples coping through deployment: Findings from a sample of national guard families
APA Citation:
Blow, A.J., Bowles, R.P., Farero, A., Subramaniam, S., Lappan, S., Nichols, E., Gorman, L., Kees, M. and Guty, D. (2017), Couples Coping Through Deployment: Findings From a Sample of National Guard Families. J. Clin. Psychol., 73: 1753-1767. https://doi.org/10.1002/jclp.22487
Focus:
Couples
Deployment
Mental health
Branch of Service:
Air Force
Army
Multiple branches
Military Affiliation:
Guard
Population:
Adulthood (18 yrs & older)
Young adulthood (18 - 29 yrs)
Thirties (30 - 39 yrs)
Middle age (40 - 64 yrs)
Share the article
Research
Blow, Adrian J.; Bowles, Ryan P.; Farero, Adam; Subramaniam, Sailaja; Lappan, Sara; Nichols, Emily; Gorman, Lisa; Kees, Michelle; Guty, Danielle
2017
Objective Military families face numerous changes and stresses as they negotiate deployments and other life transitions. How they cope with these events is an important part of their overall well-being and resilience. This longitudinal study on coping in a sample of National Guard couples examined the association between the predeployment coping (active vs. avoidant) of each in the relationship, and their own and their significant others’ mental health (anxiety, depression, posttraumatic stress disorder [PTSD]) and family well-being (dyadic adjustment and parenting stress) postdeployment. Method A total of 238 matched couples completed the predeployment survey, 143 matched couples completed the post, with 122 matched couples completing both pre- and postdeployment surveys. Results While active coping was not significantly associated with any outcomes, predeployment avoidant coping in both soldiers and significant others was associated with increased anxiety, PTSD, and depression post deployment (actor effects). Additionally, soldier avoidant coping predeployment was associated with increased parenting stress for soldiers, while significant other avoidant coping predeployment was associated with increased relationship distress for significant others (actor effects). Finally, significant other avoidant coping predeployment was associated with higher parenting distress for soldiers postdeployment (partner effect). Conclusion Findings suggest that interventions are needed to combat avoidant coping (behavioral disengagement, denial, substance abuse) predeployment because this way of coping is strongly related to negative outcomes. In addition, those who work clinically with these families should work to reduce avoidant coping strategies and any familial dynamics exacerbated by this way of coping.
12 Coping with emotions during reintegration: An evaluation of service members' psychological health
Coping with emotions during reintegration: An evaluation of service members' psychological health
Focus:
Mental health
Deployment
Branch of Service:
Multiple branches
Military Affiliation:
Active Duty
Population:
Adulthood (18 yrs & older)
Young adulthood (18 - 29 yrs)
Middle age (40 - 64 yrs)
Thirties (30 - 39 yrs)
Share the article
Other
Marini, Christina M.
2014
Upon returning home from deployment, service members are likely coping with strong emotions related to deployment stressors. In addition, service members and their intimate partners may be tasked with emotionally reconnecting with one another after an extended period of separation. Reintegration is therefore a critical, transitory time to evaluate associations between emotional coping strategies utilized by service members and their partners as predictors of service members' well-being. Previous research has indicated that service members' expression of emotions is positively related to their well-being post-deployment, whereas their avoidance is negatively related. These relationships were reevaluated in the current study. The current study adds to existing research by further assessing associations between partners' emotional coping and service members' well-being. A dyadic coping perspective rooted in family systems theory was adopted to guide the current study's research aims, which were: (1) to evaluate the unique associations between service members' emotional approach to coping and avoidance with their psychological health; and (2) to assess the impact of partners' emotion expression on service members' psychological health. Data were collected from 82 male National Guard members and their female partners after the service members returned from deployment in 2008. Several cross-sectional findings were consistent with research hypotheses: service members' emotion expression was positively associated with their self-reported psychological health, whereas their avoidance was negatively associated. Contrary to hypotheses, partners' emotion expression was adversely related to service members' psychological health. Post-hoc analyses revealed that this negative association was most robust when partners reported high levels of emotion expression and low levels of emotion processing. Potential implications for intervention/prevention programs focused on promoting the well-being of service members during reintegration are discussed.
Reintegration challenges among post-9/11 veterans: The role of mental health symptoms and resilience- and avoidance-based coping strategies
APA Citation:
Spencer, S. D., Zimmerman, M. B., Donis, N., Rodrigues, M., Jackson, D. O., & Dindo, L. (2023). Reintegration challenges among post-9/11 veterans: The role of mental health symptoms and resilience- and avoidance-based coping strategies. Journal of Contextual Behavioral Science, 30, 97–105. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcbs.2023.09.007
Focus:
Veterans
Mental health
Branch of Service:
Multiple branches
Military Affiliation:
Veteran
Population:
Adulthood (18 yrs & older)
Young adulthood (18 - 29 yrs)
Thirties (30 - 39 yrs)
Middle age (40 - 64 yrs)
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Research
Spencer, Samuel D.; Zimmerman, M. Bridget; Donis, Nicte; Rodrigues, Merlyn; Jackson, Dorothy O.; Dindo, Lilian
2023
Many returning service members deployed in the wars of Iraq and Afghanistan (Operations Enduring Freedom, Iraqi Freedom and New Dawn) face numerous challenges within post-deployment community reintegration (PDCR), including mild traumatic brain injury, chronic pain, and psychological disorders such as PTSD– a constellation of symptoms referred to as polytrauma. Within a transdiagnostic acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) framework, optimal PDCR is hindered by excesses in maladaptive avoidance-based coping and deficits in resilience-based coping. The present cross-sectional study examined the relationship between vulnerability (psychological distress, PTSD symptomology, and experiential avoidance) and resilience (values-based living; VBL) factors with PDCR in a sample of 298 Veterans with polytrauma-related concerns (Nmale = 244, Mage = 40.6). Results indicated: 1) higher psychological distress, PTSD symptomology, and experiential avoidance, respectively, and low VBL were significantly associated with greater PDCR difficulty; and 2) Veterans high in VBL (versus low) demonstrated a strengthened association between psychological distress and PTSD symptomology, respectively, with PDCR difficulty. These slope differences revealed a lack of differentiation in PDCR at high levels of distress/PTSD: PDCR difficulty was high for all levels of VBL. Conversely, at low-to-moderate levels of distress/PTSD, differences in PDCR difficulty were observed across VBL levels: PDCR difficulty was lower for Veterans high in VBL (versus low), suggesting VBL as a potential catalyst for facilitating optimal PDCR, but only for a limited range of symptom severity. Findings support the use of transdiagnostic ACT to improve outcomes for Veterans with polytrauma-related concerns.
PTSD symptom heterogeneity and alcohol-related outcomes in U.S. military veterans: Indirect associations with coping strategies
APA Citation:
Palmisano, A. N., Norman, S. B., Panza, K. E., Petrakis, I. L., & Pietrzak, R. H. (2022). PTSD symptom heterogeneity and alcohol-related outcomes in U.S. military veterans: Indirect associations with coping strategies. Journal of Anxiety Disorders, 85, 102496. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.janxdis.2021.102496
Focus:
Substance use
Mental health
Veterans
Branch of Service:
Army
Navy
Air Force
Marine Corps
Multiple branches
Coast Guard
Military Affiliation:
Veteran
Population:
Adulthood (18 yrs & older)
Thirties (30 - 39 yrs)
Middle age (40 - 64 yrs)
Share the article
Research
Palmisano, Alexandra N.; Norman, Sonya B.; Panza, Kaitlyn E.; Petrakis, Ismene L.; Pietrzak, Robert H.
2022
Introduction This study investigated the role of coping strategies in mediating the relationship between the 7-factor model of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms and alcohol misuse in veterans. Methods Data were analyzed from 615 veterans from a nationally representative study of U.S. veterans who met criteria for probable full or subthreshold PTSD. Path analyses examined the role of self-sufficient, socially-supported, and avoidant coping strategies in mediating associations between PTSD symptom clusters and alcohol use disorder (AUD), alcohol consumption, and alcohol-related consequences. Results Negative affect PTSD symptoms were associated with AUD through increased use of avoidant coping. Additionally, dysphoric arousal PTSD symptoms were associated with AUD; avoidant coping was associated with AUD and increased alcohol consumption; self-sufficient coping was associated with reduced AUD likelihood anhedonia symptoms with decreased use of self-sufficient coping; and negative affect with decreased use of socially-supported coping and increased use of avoidant coping. Conclusions Results underscore the importance of avoidant coping strategies as potential mediators of the relation between PTSD symptoms and AUD. Interventions designed to mitigate engagement in avoidant coping strategies, and to bolster engagement in self-sufficient and socially-supported strategies may help reduce alcohol misuse in veterans with full or subthreshold PTSD.
Longing for sleep after violence: The impact of PTSD symptoms, avoidance, and pain on insomnia among female veterans
APA Citation:
Mahoney, C. T., Shayani, D. R., & Iverson, K. M. (2022). Longing for sleep after violence: The impact of PTSD symptoms, avoidance, and pain on insomnia among female veterans. Psychiatry Research, 313, 114641. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psychres.2022.114641
Focus:
Physical health
Mental health
Veterans
Trauma
Branch of Service:
Multiple branches
Military Affiliation:
Veteran
Population:
Adulthood (18 yrs & older)
Young adulthood (18 - 29 yrs)
Thirties (30 - 39 yrs)
Middle age (40 - 64 yrs)
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Research
Mahoney, Colin T.; Shayani, Danielle R.; Iverson, Katherine M.
2022
Women survivors of intimate partner violence often struggle with mental and physical problems that arise from incidents of violence. Beyond posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), the most common outcome, women also may suffer from debilitating chronic pain due to physical injuries sustained during particularly violent physical and/or sexual encounters. This may be a key interaction to explore as PTSD can lead to avoidance of distressing experiences, including chronic pain, resulting in enduring medical problems such as extreme sleep difficulties. This study aimed to identify if posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms from intimate partner violence (IPV) experiences had a conditional indirect effect on insomnia via chronic pain severity moderated by experiential avoidance among women. Female Veterans of at least 18 years of age completed online surveys at three timepoints (T1-T3) between 2014 and 2017 that included measures of PTSD, chronic pain, experiential avoidance, and insomnia. A total of 411 women participated in the initial survey at T1; 208 had a lifetime history of IPV experiences. The conditional indirect effect of PTSD symptoms (T1) on insomnia (T3) via chronic pain (T2) contingent upon experiential avoidance (T2) was also significant, demonstrating a significant moderated mediation model. This model was not significant for women without a history of IPV at T1. The findings indicate that women with IPV-related PTSD symptoms who are highly avoidant are more likely to experience chronic pain, leading to worse insomnia. Women without IPV experiences did not exhibit this same pattern. Findings have implications for improving trauma-focused treatment, approach coping strategies, pain management, and sleep interventions to address these deleterious psychological and medical issues.
16 Associations among meaning in life, coping, and distress in trauma-exposed U.S. military veterans
Associations among meaning in life, coping, and distress in trauma-exposed U.S. military veterans
APA Citation:
Morse, J. L., Wooldridge, J. S., Afari, N., Angkaw, A. C., Schnurr, P. P., Lang, A. J., Capone, C., & Norman, S. B. (2023). Associations among meaning in life, coping, and distress in trauma-exposed U.S. military veterans. Psychological Services. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1037/ser0000755
Focus:
Veterans
Trauma
Mental health
Branch of Service:
Multiple branches
Military Affiliation:
Veteran
Population:
Adulthood (18 yrs & older)
Young adulthood (18 - 29 yrs)
Thirties (30 - 39 yrs)
Middle age (40 - 64 yrs)
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Research
Morse, Jessica L.; Wooldridge, Jennalee S.; Afari, Niloofar; Angkaw, Abigail C.; Schnurr, Paula P.; Lang, Ariel J.; Capone, Christy; Norman, Sonya B.
2023
Experiencing meaning in life may be particularly relevant following traumatic experiences as individuals who report meaning post trauma report less psychological distress. Engaging in avoidant coping, however, may be a sign of underlying psychological distress in the aftermath of traumatic experiences. We sought to examine associations among meaning in life, avoidant coping, and psychological distress in a sample of trauma-exposed veterans. Secondary cross-sectional analyses were conducted on data from veterans exposed to a traumatic event(s) who experienced clinically meaningful guilt (N = 145). Questionnaires on meaning in life, avoidant coping, and psychological distress were administered, and structural equation modeling was used to test direct effects. Path analysis revealed that greater meaning was associated with lower depression, anxiety, and posttraumatic stress symptomatology, while higher avoidant coping was associated with greater depression, anxiety, posttraumatic stress, and somatization symptomatology. Participants who report more meaning in life and report lower avoidant coping post trauma may experience less psychological distress. If replicated longitudinally, results could suggest cultivating meaning in life and reducing avoidant coping may decrease psychological distress. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved)
17 Military deployment, coping strategies, and relationship satisfaction
Military deployment, coping strategies, and relationship satisfaction
APA Citation:
Nehring, N. (2018). Military deployment, coping strategies, and relationship satisfaction. Dissertation Abstracts International: Section B: The Sciences and Engineering. ProQuest Information & Learning.
Focus:
Deployment
Other
Branch of Service:
Air Force
Army
Marine Corps
Multiple branches
Navy
Military Affiliation:
Active Duty
Population:
Adulthood (18 yrs & older)
Young adulthood (18 - 29 yrs)
Thirties (30 - 39 yrs)
Middle age (40 - 64 yrs)
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Other
Nehring, Nina
2018
Military deployment can be a tremendous stressor on service members and their families. Stress associated with deployment can negatively impact the mental health and subjective well-being of not only service members but also their partners and put a strain on the relationship. Divorce rates among military personnel are higher than in the civilian population. Many studies have been conducted examining the mental health of soldiers returning from Iraq or Afghanistan, but few studies and interventions have considered the effects this deployment can have on the soldier's family. This research project explored what coping strategies partners of military personnel utilized while their partner was deployed, and the relationship between coping strategies utilized and relationship satisfaction. Additionally, this work served as a pilot study to determine how to best explore this phenomenon, evaluate feasibility, and identify design issues. It was hypothesized that more adaptive coping strategies are associated with higher relationship satisfaction and that less adaptive coping strategies are associated with lower relationship satisfaction. Thirty-one partners of military personnel completed the Ways of Coping Questionnaire (WAYS) and the Couples Satisfaction Index (CSI). Results were analyzed using a correlational analysis and showed a significant, moderate, negative linear relationship between relationship satisfaction and the coping styles of accepting responsibility and escape-avoidance, confirming the hypothesis that less adaptive coping strategies are associated with lower relationship satisfaction. The results of this pilot study can serve to inform feasibility and methodologic considerations of studying this phenomenon. Further and more in-depth research on this topic may then contribute to program development supporting stay-at-home partners' coping with stress during the deployment phase.
18 Men's adjustment to their partners' breast cancer: A dyadic coping perspective
Men's adjustment to their partners' breast cancer: A dyadic coping perspective
APA Citation:
Feldman, B. N., & Broussard, C. A. (2006). Men's adjustment to their partners' breast cancer: A dyadic coping perspective. Health & Social Work, 31(2), 117-127. https://doi.org/10.1093/hsw/31.2.117
Focus:
Couples
Mental health
Other
Physical health
Population:
Adulthood (18 yrs & older)
Young adulthood (18 - 29 yrs)
Thirties (30 - 39 yrs)
Middle age (40 - 64 yrs)
Aged (65 yrs & older)
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Research
Feldman, Barry N.; Broussard, C. Anne
2006
Dyadic Coping Scale (DCS) is administered by Feldman and Broussard (2006) to measure dyadic coping strategies among breast cancer patients and their male partners. Feldman and Broussard (2006) use the following five subscales from Bodenmann's (1995) instrument: Dyadic Stress Communication, Common Dyadic Coping, Positive Dyadic Coping, Hostile Dyadic Coping, and Avoidance of Dyadic Coping
Deployment-related coping strategies in military couples: Associations with relationship satisfaction
APA Citation:
Giff, S. T., Renshaw, K. D., Carter, S. P., & Paige, L. C. (2020). Deployment-related coping strategies in military couples: Associations with relationship satisfaction. Military Psychology, 32(6), 432-440. https://doi.org/10.1080/08995605.2020.1803725
Focus:
Couples
Deployment
Mental health
Trauma
Branch of Service:
Air Force
Army
Military Affiliation:
Active Duty
Reserve
Guard
Population:
Adulthood (18 yrs & older)
Young adulthood (18 - 29 yrs)
Thirties (30 - 39 yrs)
Middle age (40 - 64 yrs)
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Research & Summary
Giff, Sarah T.; Renshaw, Keith D.; Carter, Sarah P.; Paige, Lauren C.
2020
Military deployments are known to be stressful for both military service members (SMs) and their romantic partners. Little is known about how coping strategies used during deployment may relate to one’s own and one’s partner’s relationship satisfaction following deployment. This project investigated the retrospective report of how 154 SMs and their romantic partners coped with deployment-related stress, using previously established coping constructs of problem-focused, emotion-focused, and avoidance coping. Examination of relative associations of coping strategies and mental health symptoms with SMs’ and partners’ relationship satisfaction showed that partners’ emotion-focused coping was positively related to both SMs’ and partners’ relationship satisfaction, whereas partners’ avoidance was negatively related to both their own and SMs’ relationship satisfaction. Results highlight the importance of partner coping within military couples and point to potential strategies for coping with deployment that are associated with enhanced relationship functioning after deployment.
Mechanisms through which executive dysfunction influences suicidal ideation in combat-exposed Iraq and Afghanistan veterans
APA Citation:
Crocker, L. D., Jurick, S. M., Merritt, V. C., Keller, A. V., Hoffman, S. N., Davey, D. K., & Jak, A. J. (2022). Mechanisms through which executive dysfunction influences suicidal ideation in combat-exposed Iraq and Afghanistan veterans. The Clinical Neuropsychologist, 36(8), 2073-2092. https://doi.org/10.1080/13854046.2021.1974566
Focus:
Veterans
Mental health
Branch of Service:
Multiple branches
Military Affiliation:
Veteran
Population:
Adulthood (18 yrs & older)
Young adulthood (18 - 29 yrs)
Thirties (30 - 39 yrs)
Middle age (40 - 64 yrs)
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Research
Crocker, Laura D.; Jurick, Sarah M.; Merritt, Victoria C.; Keller, Amber V.; Hoffman, Samantha N.; Davey, Delaney K.; Jak, Amy J.
2022
Objective: Executive dysfunction has previously been associated with suicidality, but it remains unclear how deficits in executive functioning contribute to increased suicidal thoughts and behaviors. Although it has been proposed that poorer executive functioning leads to difficulty generating and implementing appropriate coping strategies to regulate distress and inhibit suicidal thoughts and behaviors, studies have not systematically examined these relationships. Therefore, the present study examined various hypotheses to elucidate the mechanisms through which executive dysfunction influences suicidal ideation (SI) in combat-exposed Iraq/Afghanistan veterans.Method: Veterans who endorsed SI were compared to those who denied SI on demographic and diagnostic variables and measures of neuropsychological functioning, psychological symptoms, coping styles, and combat experiences. Serial mediation models were tested to examine mechanistic relationships among executive functioning, psychological distress, coping, and SI.Results: Those who endorsed SI had worse executive functioning, greater psychological distress, and greater avoidant coping relative to those who denied SI. Serial mediation model testing indicated a significant indirect path, such that executive dysfunction increased psychological distress, which in turn increased avoidant coping, leading to SI.Conclusions: Findings support and extend previous hypotheses regarding how executive functioning contributes to increased risk of suicidality via increased distress and avoidant coping. Intervention efforts focused on reducing suicidality may benefit from techniques that enhance executive functioning (e.g. computerized training, cognitive rehabilitation) and in turn reduce distress prior to targeting coping strategies.
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2 THEORY SERIES: ABC-X MODEL OF FAMILY STRESS
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4 CHILDREN’S SELF-COMPASSION: COPING WITH PARENTAL MENTAL ILLNESS
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5 CARING FOR A SERVICE MEMBER: THE IMPORTANCE OF COMMUNITY AND SELF-CARE
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6 PTSD AND COUPLE STRESS: HOW TO OVERCOME PTSD TOGETHER
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