TY - JOUR
T1 - The Relationship between Resilience Resources and Long-Term Deployment-Related PTSD Symptoms
T2 - A Longitudinal Study in Dutch Veterans
AU - Kamphuis, Wim
AU - Delahaij, Roos
AU - Duel, Jacco
AU - Geuze, Elbert
AU - Vermetten, Eric
N1 - Funding Information:
This work was supported by Knowledge and Innovation Department of the Dutch Ministry of Defense.
Publisher Copyright:
© 2021 The Author(s). Published with license by Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.
PY - 2021/1/12
Y1 - 2021/1/12
N2 - Veterans may report PTSD symptoms, years after their deployment. The aim of this study was to examine whether the presence of resilience resources before deployment, and the potential loss of these resources over time, are associated with the risk of PTSD symptoms five years post-deployment. The study focused on Dutch service members, deployed to Afghanistan or the Gulf of Aden. Pre-deployment resilience resources (i.e. coping self-efficacy, team cohesion, and perceived organizational support) were measured in 2012–2013 (n = 786). Five years after deployment a follow-up study (n = 148) measured the same resources as well as PTSD symptoms. Hierarchical regression analysis showed that fewer resources before deployment as well as a post-deployment decline in resources predicted PTSD. Low coping self-efficacy and low perceived organizational support before deployment as well as a decline in these resources over time were significantly related to PTSD symptoms five years post-deployment. This study therefore provides initial support for a relationship between a resource loss process and PTSD symptoms in veterans five years post-deployment.
AB - Veterans may report PTSD symptoms, years after their deployment. The aim of this study was to examine whether the presence of resilience resources before deployment, and the potential loss of these resources over time, are associated with the risk of PTSD symptoms five years post-deployment. The study focused on Dutch service members, deployed to Afghanistan or the Gulf of Aden. Pre-deployment resilience resources (i.e. coping self-efficacy, team cohesion, and perceived organizational support) were measured in 2012–2013 (n = 786). Five years after deployment a follow-up study (n = 148) measured the same resources as well as PTSD symptoms. Hierarchical regression analysis showed that fewer resources before deployment as well as a post-deployment decline in resources predicted PTSD. Low coping self-efficacy and low perceived organizational support before deployment as well as a decline in these resources over time were significantly related to PTSD symptoms five years post-deployment. This study therefore provides initial support for a relationship between a resource loss process and PTSD symptoms in veterans five years post-deployment.
KW - deployment
KW - Post-traumatic stress disorder
KW - resilience
KW - resources
KW - trajectories
KW - veterans
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85111118170&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1080/21635781.2020.1864528
DO - 10.1080/21635781.2020.1864528
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85111118170
SN - 2163-5781
VL - 9
SP - 267
EP - 274
JO - Military Behavioral Health
JF - Military Behavioral Health
IS - 3
ER -