Effect of transition home from combat on risk-taking and health-related behaviors

Transition home following a combat deployment involves a period of adjustment. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses of a new 16‐item transition scale were conducted with 2 samples and resulted in 4 factors (Benefit, Appreciation, Anger/Alienation, and Guilt/Remorse). In Study 1 (N = 1,651),...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of traumatic stress 2011-08, Vol.24 (4), p.381-389
Main Authors: Adler, Amy B., Britt, Thomas W., Castro, Carl Andrew, McGurk, Dennis, Bliese, Paul D.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adaptation, Psychological
Adult and adolescent clinical studies
Anxiety disorders. Neuroses
Biological and medical sciences
Factor Analysis, Statistical
Female
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
Health Behavior
Health Surveys
Humans
Illness and personality
Iraq War, 2003-2011
Male
Medical sciences
Military Personnel - psychology
Personality, behavior and health
Post traumatic stress disorder
Psychology and medicine
Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry
Psychology. Psychophysiology
Psychopathology. Psychiatry
Risk-Taking
Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic
United States
Warfare
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Summary:Transition home following a combat deployment involves a period of adjustment. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses of a new 16‐item transition scale were conducted with 2 samples and resulted in 4 factors (Benefit, Appreciation, Anger/Alienation, and Guilt/Remorse). In Study 1 (N = 1,651), the number of combat events was positively related to Anger/Alienation 4 months later even after controlling for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms, partial r = .18, p < .001. In Study 2 (N = 647), after controlling for PTSD symptoms, Anger/Alienation assessed at 4 months postdeployment predicted more risk‐taking behaviors 4 months later, partial r = .10, p = .01. Appreciation predicted fewer unhealthy habits, partial r = −.13, p = .001, whereas Anger/Alienation predicted more unhealthy habits, partial r = .09, p = .024. Results demonstrate the importance of broadening the conceptualization of adjustment in combat veterans. Traditional and Simplified Chinese s by AsianSTSS
ISSN:0894-9867
1573-6598
DOI:10.1002/jts.20665