title: A qualitative analysis of the experience and impact of killing in hand-to-hand combat.
abstract: A growing body of research suggests that killing during military combat is closely associated with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), as well as a number of other adverse mental health related conditions (e.g., dissociative experiences, violent behavior, functional impairment). This article provides first-person perspectives on the experiences and impact of killing by service members with the goal of expanding our understanding of the impact of taking a life during war. In audio-recorded phenomenological interviews, 9 service members described their experiences and the subsequent impact of killing during hand-to-hand combat. A description, supported by participant quotations, was constructed to represent the participants' experiences. Results suggest the experience and aftermath of taking a life in hand-to-hand combat was disturbing, psychologically stressful, and necessitated some form of coping after the event. Service members who killed in hand-to-hand combat viewed their actions as necessary to preserve their life and that killing in hand-to-hand combat was more emotionally taxing than killing by shooting. Our findings may help to improve providers' understanding of service members' first-person experiences of killing in hand-to-hand combat and thus provide the basis for the development of a connected and genuine relationship with such military clients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Kinesiology, Recreation and Sport Studies, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee, USA.
authors.forename: Peter R
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Jensen
authors.forename: Duncan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Simpson
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D004644:Emotions; D006708:Homicide / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D008889:Military Personnel / Q000523:psychology*; D036301:Qualitative Research; D014481:United States; D014754:Violence / Q000523:psychology*; D014857:Warfare; D015030:Zimbabwe