The Role of Intimate Relationships, Appraisals of Military Service, and Gender on the Development of Posttraumatic Stress Symptoms following Iraq Deployment

Active Duty Army soldiers participated in pre- and post-deployment screenings. Those who screened negatively for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) at pre-deployment were included in the present analyses designed to examine risk and protective factors for post-deployment combat-related PTSD symptoms. Positive appraisals of military service related negatively to a positive screen for PTSD at post-deployment. Being in an intimate relationships slightly increased the odds of screening positive for PTSD after deployment.