Deployment cycle stressors and post-traumatic stress symptoms in Army National Guard women: the mediating effect of resilience.
This study examined the associations between deployment cycle stressors, post-traumatic stress symptoms (PTSS), and resilience in Army National Guard (ARNG) women deployed to Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom. Resilience was also tested as a mediator. Hierarchical linear regression indicated that deployment and post-deployment stressors were positively associated, and resilience was negatively associated with PTSS. Resilience fully mediated the association between post-deployment stressors and PTSS. Findings suggest assessing deployment and post-deployment stressors in ARNG women may be helpful in identifying those at risk for severe PTSS; and highlight the potential of individual-level resilient characteristics in mitigating the adverse impact of post-deployment stressors.
School of Social Work, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts 02215, USA. nwooten@bu.edu
Nikki R
NR
Wooten
D000328:Adult; D055826:Afghan Campaign 2001-; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004219:District of Columbia; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D054542:Iraq War, 2003-2011; D016014:Linear Models; D008396:Maryland; D008875:Middle Aged; D008889:Military Personnel / Q000523:psychology*; D055500:Resilience, Psychological; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment / Q000379:methods; D012944:Social Support; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000150:complications* / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology; D014728:Veterans / Q000523:psychology*; D014768:Virginia; D055815:Young Adult