title: Effect of transition home from combat on risk-taking and health-related behaviors.
abstract: Transition home following a combat deployment involves a period of adjustment. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses of a new 16-item transition scale were conducted with 2 samples and resulted in 4 factors (Benefit, Appreciation, Anger/Alienation, and Guilt/Remorse). In Study 1 (N = 1,651), the number of combat events was positively related to Anger/Alienation 4 months later even after controlling for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms, partial r = .18, p < .001. In Study 2 (N = 647), after controlling for PTSD symptoms, Anger/Alienation assessed at 4 months postdeployment predicted more risk-taking behaviors 4 months later, partial r = .10, p = .01. Appreciation predicted fewer unhealthy habits, partial r = -.13, p = .001, whereas Anger/Alienation predicted more unhealthy habits, partial r = .09, p = .024. Results demonstrate the importance of broadening the conceptualization of adjustment in combat veterans.
authors.affiliation: U.S. Army Medical Research Unit-Europe, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Heidelberg. amy.adler@us.army.mil
authors.forename: Amy B
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Adler
authors.forename: Thomas W
authors.initials: TW
authors.lastname: Britt
authors.forename: Carl Andrew
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Castro
authors.forename: Dennis
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: McGurk
authors.forename: Paul D
authors.initials: PD
authors.lastname: Bliese
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D005163:Factor Analysis, Statistical; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D054542:Iraq War, 2003-2011; D008297:Male; D008889:Military Personnel / Q000523:psychology*; D012309:Risk-Taking; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic; D014481:United States; D014857:Warfare