title: The role of locus of control and coping style in predicting longitudinal PTSD-trajectories after combat exposure.
abstract: While longitudinal posttraumatic stress responses are known to be heterogeneous, little is known about predictors of those responses. We investigated if locus of control (LOC) and coping style are associated with long-term PTSD-trajectories after exposure to combat. Six hundred and seventy five Israeli soldiers with or without combat stress reaction (CSR) from the Lebanon war were assessed 1, 2, and 20 years after the war. Combat exposure, LOC, and coping style were then investigated as covariates of the trajectories of resilience, recovery, delayed onset, and chronicity. Symptomatic trajectories in the CSR and the non-CSR group were significantly associated to varying degrees with perceived life threat during combat (ORs: 1.76-2.53), internal LOC (0.77-0.87), emotional coping style (0.28-0.34), and low use of problem-focused coping (2.12-3.11). In conclusion, assessment of LOC and coping can aid prediction of chronic PTSD outcomes of combat exposure.
authors.affiliation: Research and Knowledge Centre, Danish Veteran Centre, Ringsted, Denmark. Electronic address: kareningekarstoft@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Karen-Inge
authors.initials: KI
authors.lastname: Karstoft
authors.affiliation: School of Psychology, University of Ulster at Coleraine Campus, Coleraine, Northern Ireland, UK.
authors.forename: Cherie
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Armour
authors.affiliation: The National Centre for Psychotraumatology, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark.
authors.forename: Ask
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Elklit
authors.affiliation: Bob Shapell School of Social Work, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel.
authors.forename: Zahava
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Solomon
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological / Q000502:physiology*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003130:Combat Disorders / Q000523:psychology*; D004644:Emotions / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007389:Internal-External Control; D008297:Male; D008889:Military Personnel / Q000523:psychology*; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000523:psychology*; D014728:Veterans / Q000523:psychology; D000067453:War Exposure; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Combat; Coping; Locus of control; Posttraumatic stress disorder; Trauma; Veterans