title: Battlefield compassion and posttraumatic growth in combat servicepersons.
abstract: The literature is replete with studies related to the negative outcomes of serving in combat. However, for some military servicepersons, healing could be assisted by understanding the positive experiences and outcomes related to combat service. This study surveyed 59 servicepersons to identify acts of battlefield compassion, as well as other positive military experiences. In addition, participants were asked to identify personal changes as a result of compassionate experiences and to give an overall rating of their time in combat. Results are compared to the posttraumatic growth (PTG) literature and reveal that participants identified positive changes associated with experiences of compassion.
authors.affiliation: Smoky Mountain Center, Silva, NC, USA.
authors.forename: Jayme Glover
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Larick
authors.forename: Noreen M
authors.initials: NM
authors.lastname: Graf
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D004645:Empathy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008016:Life Change Events; D008297:Male; D008603:Mental Health; D008875:Middle Aged; D008889:Military Personnel / Q000523:psychology*; D009014:Morals; D055500:Resilience, Psychological; D012945:Social Values; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D028722:Virtues; D014857:Warfare; D055815:Young Adult