Publication year
2008
Citation Title
An examination of family adjustment among Operation Desert Storm veterans.
Journal Name
Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology
Journal Volume
76
Issue Number
4
Page Numbers
648-656
DOI
10.1037/a0012576
Summary
This study examined interrelationships among combat exposure, family adjustment, and symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), including symptom clusters (reexperiencing and avoidance, withdrawal and numbing, arousaland lack of control, and self-persecution), in a sample of Operation Desert Storm Veterans (N = 1,512).
Key Findings
Combat exposure predicted poorer family adjustment for female, but not male, Veterans.
Higher combat exposure was associated with more PTSD symptoms for all Veterans, and increased PTSD symptoms were associated with poorer family adjustment for all Veterans; however, the relationship between combat exposure and family adjustment was not accounted for by total PTSD symptoms.
Two PTSD symptom clusters, withdrawal and numbing and arousal and lack of control, did account for the relationship between combat exposure and family adjustment such that combat exposure influenced family adjustment through increased symptoms of withdrawal and numbing and arousal and lack of control.
Implications for Program Leaders
Provide information about PTSD symptoms to help families become better equipped to seek assistance when necessary
Offer workshops that increase skills for coping with PTSD symptoms to help military families retain cohesion and adaptability in the face of a PTSD diagnosis
Enhance education for Service members and their families regarding the use of constructive expression of emotions during conflict management to increase family resilience
Implications for Policy Makers
Recommend collaboration among providers and professionals who work with military families to increase awareness of the services available to families dealing with a mental health diagnosis
Encourage training for professionals who work with military famlies regarding the possible impact of PTSD symptoms on family functioning and how to mitigate those impacts
Continue to support programs that aim to increase the cohesion and adaptability of military families
Methods
In 1991, Soldiers completed self-report questionnaires within five days following their return from Operation Desert Storm, prior to rejoining their families, and again 18 to 24 months later.
Questionnaires included information about combat exposure, PTSD symptoms, and family functioning.
Data were analyzed to determine the relationships among combat exposure, PTSD, and family adjustment and mechanisms underlying those relationships
Participants
Participants included 1,512 Service members residing with family members, who were on average 31.6 years old (SD = 8.9 years).
The ethnic composition of the sample was 87.4% White, 5.5% Black, 3.3% Latino, 2.3% Native American, 0.5% Asian-American, and 1% another race.
The sample consisted of 93% males.
Limitations
Those who participated may differ from non-participants in a way that is not measured but affected the outcome variables. For instance, those that participated may have been functioning better (or worse) than those who did not participate.
The data were collected over 20 years ago and the demographic characteristics of the sample may not represent today’s Army.
No data were collected on nonmilitary stressors that may have influenced the relationships described.
Avenues for Future Research
Examine the impact of combat exposure and PTSD symptoms and include a larger number of women to provide a clearer picture of the experiences of female veterans
Use longitudinal studies that incorporate deployment-related stressors, pre-deployment family vulnerabilities, and nonmilitary stressors
Incorporate a wider array of family adjustment measures obtained from multiple reporters
Focus
Army
Target Population
Population Focus
Military Branch
Military Component
Abstract
This study examined interrelationships among combat exposure, symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and family adjustment in a sample of male and female Operation Desert Storm veterans (N = 1,512). In structural equation models for both male and female veterans, higher combat exposure was associated with higher PTSD symptoms, which in turn were associated with poorer family adjustment, although these indirect effects did not reach statistical significance. The model for female veterans evidenced a significant direct negative association between combat exposure and family adjustment when it statistically accounted for PTSD symptoms. When the relative impacts of separate PTSD symptom groupings were examined, those reflecting withdrawal/numbing symptoms and arousal/ lack of control symptoms significantly and indirectly accounted for the negative effects of combat exposure on family adjustment. Study findings indicate a number of possible pathways through which war-zone deployments negatively impact military families and suggest several avenues for future research.
Attach