Publication year
2008
Citation Title
Post-combat invincibility: Violent combat experiences are associated with increased risk-taking propensity following deployment.
Journal Name
Journal of Psychiatric Research
Journal Volume
42
Issue Number
13
Page Numbers
1112-1121
DOI
10.1016/j.jpsychires.208.01.001
Summary
U.S. Army Soldiers survey data was used to assess the relationship between combat experiences and risk-taking propensity and behaviors. Specific combat experiences predicted greater risk-taking propensity post-deployment and actual risk taking behaviors (e.g., more frequent and greater quantities of alcohol use and increased verbal and physical aggression toward others).
Key Findings
Soldiers with high levels of violent combat, who had killed another person, and had been exposed to intense human trauma endorsed somewhat greater willingness to engage in risky behaviors at home (e.g., driving fast and taking dangerous shortcuts).
Being exposed to violent combat was most consistently predictive of risk-taking behaviors.
Combat experiences were predictive of reported actual risk-taking behavior in the previous month (e.g., frequency and quantity of alcohol use and frequency of verbal and physical aggression to others).
The experience of having a buddy killed or injured was somewhat protective against later drunk driving or riding with a driver who had too much to drink.
Implications for Program Leaders
Provide education to Service members regarding strategies to de-escalate potentially distressing situations (e.g., time out process)
Offer workshops to military family members to help them effectively cope with potentially unsettling risk-taking behaviors in their Service member, including the provision of resources for domestic violence
Disseminate information to military families regarding mental health issues common, including risk-taking behaviors, after combat deployments and resources to cope with these issues
Implications for Policy Makers
Recommend that Service members are regularly assessed for risk-taking propensity post-deployment; Service members with high risk-taking potential could be provided additional resources or education
Recommend professional education for program staff regarding the dangers of risk-taking behaviors and how to help Service members make healthy choices when dealing with stress
Continue to support post-deployment reintegration programs that help military families positively adjust following a deployment
Methods
Within the first three days of returning from year Iraq deployment in 2006, U.S. Army Soldiers completed a baseline survey; three months later, they completed a second survey.
The baseline survey contained questions about combat experiences, while the second survey asked questions about emotional and mental health issues, use of alcohol, aggressive behaviors, and risk-taking propensity.
Participant recruitment methods were not provided.
Participants
Participants included 1,252 U.S. Army Soldiers (94% male).
The majority of participants were White (70%), with a mean age of 27 years (SD = 5.90).
Mean length of military service was 6.5 years (SD = 5.80); 49% of participants were ranked E1-E4 and 39% were non-commissioned officers.
Limitations
The magnitude of the effect sizes were small and indicates that risk-taking behavior is affected by other unmeasured variables.
Participants were not anonymous and this may have impacted the Soldiers responses.
The data are correlational and causal statements cannot be made.
Avenues for Future Research
Assess the persistence of risk-taking behaviors among Service members after deployment
Examine the effectiveness of interventions aimed at curbing high risk-taking behaviors among Service members
Include pre-deployment assessments in order to identify subgroups most at risk for developing behavioral changes post-deployment
Focus
Army
Target Population
Population Focus
Military Branch
Military Component
Abstract
Combat exposure is associated with increased rates of mental health problems such as post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, and anxiety when Soldiers return home. Another important health consequence of combat exposure involves the potential for increased risk-taking propensity and unsafe behavior among returning service members. Survey responses regarding 37 different combat experiences were collected from 1252 US Army Soldiers immediately upon return home from combat deployment during Operation Iraqi Freedom. A second survey that included the Evaluation of Risks Scale (EVAR) and questions about recent risky behavior was administered to these same Soldiers 3 months after the initial post-deployment survey. Combat experiences were reduced to seven factors using principal components analysis and used to predict post-deployment risk-propensity scores. Although effect sizes were small, specific combat experiences, including greater exposure to violent combat, killing another person, and contact with high levels of human trauma, were predictive of greater risk-taking propensity after homecoming. Greater exposure to these combat experiences was also predictive of actual risk-related behaviors in the preceding month, including more frequent and greater quantities of alcohol use and increased verbal and physical aggression toward others. Exposure to violent combat, human trauma, and having direct responsibility for taking the life of another person may alter an individualÕs perceived threshold of invincibility and slightly increase the propensity to engage in risky behavior upon returning home after wartime deployment. Findings highlight the importance of education and counseling for returning service members to mitigate the public health consequences of elevated risk-propensity associated with combat exposure.
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