Confirmatory factor analysis of the Posttraumatic Growth Inventory with a sample of soldiers previously deployed in support of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars.
Research has documented the impact of combat trauma on psychological functioning but less is known about the measurement of positive changes after military deployments. This study examined the factor structure of the Posttraumatic Growth Inventory (PTGI; Tedeschi & Calhoun, 1996) on a sample of active duty soldiers (n = 3537) exposed to combat in Iraq or Afghanistan. Confirmatory factor analyses (CFA) were conducted to test a 5-factor model and a single higher-order factor model. CFA results indicated that both models fit the data equally well and provide support for using both the whole scale and a multidimensional scale. The use of the PTGI in military research and the limitations of the current study are discussed.
National Center for Telehealth and Technology, Tacoma, WA 98431-1100, USA. jocelyns@ufl.edu
Jocelyn A
JA
Lee
David D
DD
Luxton
Greg M
GM
Reger
Gregory A
GA
Gahm
D000328:Adult; D055826:Afghan Campaign 2001-; D005163:Factor Analysis, Statistical; D006801:Humans; D054542:Iraq War, 2003-2011; D008297:Male; D008889:Military Personnel / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014857:Warfare