title: Posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms, levels of social support, and emotional hiding in returning veterans.
abstract: The current study examines the associations among levels of social support, emotional hiding, and screening positive for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) within a sample of 536 Operation Iraqi Freedom/Operation Enduring Freedom (OIF/OEF) veterans. Michigan and Ohio OIF/OEF veterans were contacted to complete a postdeployment mental health screening questionnaire developed as part of the Department of Veterans Affairs Ann Arbor Healthcare System's Serving Returning Veterans Mental Health Program. Approximately 30% of veterans screened positive for PTSD. All sources of social support, as well as emotional hiding, were significantly associated with screening positive for PTSD. Each unit increase of emotional hiding from spouses or significant others, friends, and family was associated with a 32% to 44% increase in odds of screening positive for PTSD. Additional research is needed to examine constructs related to social support and PTSD, such as emotional hiding, in order to identify areas for intervention.
authors.affiliation: VA Ann Arbor Healthcare System, 2215 Fuller Rd (116), Ann Arbor, MI 48105. jduax@med.umich.edu.
authors.forename: Jeanne M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Duax
authors.forename: Kipling M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Bohnert
authors.forename: Sheila A M
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Rauch
authors.forename: Andrew M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Defever
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000342:Affective Symptoms / Q000523:psychology*; D055826:Afghan Campaign 2001-; D005190:Family; D005260:Female; D033062:Friends; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D054542:Iraq War, 2003-2011; D008297:Male; D008960:Models, Psychological; D012944:Social Support; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014728:Veterans / Q000523:psychology*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: OIF/OEF; PTSD; combat; emotional hiding; mental health screening; postdeployment; returning veterans; social support; survey; trauma