The contribution of stressful life events throughout the life cycle to combat-induced psychopathology.
This study examines the contribution of prewar life events, war exposure, and postwar life events to combat-induced psychopathology among 425 Israeli War veterans from the Lebanon War. Data was collected at two time points (1983 and 2002). The sample included veterans with and without combat stress reaction (CSR). Battle intensity and subjective experience of risk in war were associated with CSR. Negative childhood life events, CSR, PTSD in 1983 and postwar negative life events were associated with PTSD in 2002. Furthermore, a path analysis revealed that CSR mediated the relation between battle intensity and PTSD in 2002. Our findings suggest that stressful life events throughout the life cycle contribute significantly to veterans' posttraumatic symptomatology, above and beyond combat exposure.
Solomon
Zahava
Z
The Adler Research Center for Child Welfare and Protection, Bob Shapel School of Social Work, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel. Solomon@post.tau.ac.il
Zur-Noah
Shlomit
S
Horesh
Danny
D
Zerach
Gadi
G
Keinan
Giora
G
D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D003130:Combat Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D035061:Control Groups; D039721:Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; D006801:Humans; D007557:Israel / Q000453:epidemiology; D007861:Lebanon; D008016:Life Change Events; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008889:Military Personnel / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008960:Models, Psychological; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D002666:Psychology, Child / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012044:Regression Analysis; D018570:Risk Assessment; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D017741:Survivors / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014728:Veterans / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014754:Violence / Q000523:psychology; D014857:Warfare