Predictors of posttraumatic stress reactions in Norwegian U.N. peacekeepers 7 years after service.
A sample of 1,624 Norwegian veterans from the UNIFIL (United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon) was investigated on average 6.6 years after service, completing a questionnaire focusing on stress exposure and posttraumatic stress reactions. The prevalence of posttraumatic stress disorder (measured by the Posttraumatic Symptom Scale [PTSS-10]) was 5% overall, but 16% in the subgroup of personnel having been prematurely repatriated from UNIFIL. Multiple regression analyses showed that the following variables made separate and significant contributions to the explained variance of the PTSS-10: Service stress exposure, perceived lack of meaningfulness with respect to the military mission, and stressful life-events in life after service. These factors explained 25% (overall sample) and 37% (repatriated sample) of the variation in the posttraumatic symptom score.
Mehlum
Lars
L
Norwegian Defense Command HQ, Oslo. lars.mehlum@psykiatri.uio.no
Weisaeth
Lars
L
D000328:Adult; D005544:Forecasting; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009664:Norway; D015995:Prevalence; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012307:Risk Factors; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology* / Q000523:psychology; D013997:Time Factors; D014728:Veterans / Q000523:psychology*