title: The Effectiveness of Early Group Intervention for Military Reserves Soldiers: The Role of the Repressive Coping Style.
abstract: This study had two aims: 1. To examine whether soldiers who participated in Early Group Intervention (EGI) would show less distress and better functioning and physical health than soldiers who did not participate in EGI, and 2. To examine the contribution of the intervention to participants with repressive coping style. The sample comprised 166 male reserve soldiers who fought in the Second Lebanon War. The intervention was conducted three months after the traumatic event, was based on military protocol, and took place over the course of one day. Data were collected at two points in time (four months apart). The findings indicated that after EGI, the intervention group experienced less post-traumatic distress than did the control group. In addition, four months after the intervention, the functioning and physical health of the intervention group was significantly better than that of the control group. Notably, the intensity of post-traumatic distress before the intervention was lower among repressors and low-anxious soldiers than among soldiers in the other two groups (high-anxious and defensive). No significant differences were found after the intervention with regard to the various styles of coping with post-traumatic distress. Future clinical implications of the findings are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Combat Stress Reaction Unit, Mental Health Division, Medical Corps, IDF, Ramat Gan, Israel School of Social Work, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat Gan, Israel.
authors.forename: Yael
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Shoval-Zuckerman
authors.affiliation: School of Social Work, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat Gan, Israel.
authors.forename: Rachel
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Dekel
authors.affiliation: School of Social Work, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat Gan, Israel School of Social Work, Tel Aviv University, Ramat Aviv, Israel.
authors.forename: Zahava
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Solomon
authors.affiliation: Combat Stress Reaction Unit, Mental Health Division, Medical Corps, IDF, Ramat Gan, Israel School of Social Work, Tel Aviv University, Ramat Aviv, Israel School of Social Work, Ruppin Academic Center Emek Hefer, Israel.
authors.forename: Ofir
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Levi
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D001007:Anxiety / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007557:Israel; D008297:Male; D008889:Military Personnel / Q000523:psychology*; D011615:Psychotherapy, Group / Q000379:methods*; D012094:Repression, Psychology; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000628:therapy*