title: Perceived organizational support, posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms, and stigma in soldiers returning from combat.
abstract: Research has shown that perceived organizational support (POS), or how much employees believe their organizations value their contributions and well-being, is an important predictor of employee mental health outcomes. To support employee mental health in high-risk occupations, organizations may want to identify variables that explain the relationship between POS and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Using a longitudinal design and a military sample, the present study found a relationship between POS and stigma as well as PTSD symptoms. Stigma partially mediated the relationship between POS at Time 1 and PTSD symptoms at Time 2. The partial mediation indicates that a supportive environment may also create a climate of reduced stigma in which soldiers may be comfortable addressing PTSD symptoms. Both results suggest positive actions that organizations can take to support employee mental health.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Clemson University.
authors.forename: Christie L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Kelley
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Clemson University.
authors.forename: Thomas W
authors.initials: TW
authors.lastname: Britt
authors.affiliation: US Army Medical Research Unit-Europe.
authors.forename: Amy B
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Adler
authors.affiliation: Department of Military Psychiatry, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research.
authors.forename: Paul D
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-5384-8879
authors.initials: PD
authors.lastname: Bliese
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D054542:Iraq War, 2003-2011; D008889:Military Personnel / Q000523:psychology*; D015279:Organizational Culture; D057545:Social Stigma; D012944:Social Support; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000523:psychology*; D014481:United States