Military unit support, postdeployment social support, and PTSD symptoms among active duty and National Guard soldiers deployed to Iraq

Han, Sohyun C.; Castro, Frank; Lee, Lewina O.; Charney, Meredith E.; Marx, Brian P.; Brailey, Kevin; Proctor, Susan P.; Vasterling, Jennifer J.

doi:10.1016/j.janxdis.2014.04.004

Cited by 85 publications

(72 citation statements)

References 26 publications

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“…Predeployment perceived unit support was not associated with postdeployment PTSD among Army National Guard soldiers (Han et al, 2014;Polusny et al, 2011) or Regular Army soldiers (Han et al, 2014).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 82%

Prospective associations of perceived unit cohesion with postdeployment mental health outcomes

et al. 2019

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Background Prior investigations have found negative associations between military unit cohesion and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD); however, most relied on cross‐sectional data and few examined relationships of unit cohesion to other mental disorders. This study evaluates prospective associations of perceived unit cohesion with a range of mental health outcomes following combat deployment. Methods U.S. Army soldiers were surveyed approximately 1–2 months before deployment to Afghanistan (T0); and 1 month (T1), 3 months (T2), and 9 months (T3) after return from deployment. Logistic regression was performed to estimate associations of perceived unit cohesion at T0 with risk of PTSD, major depressive episode (MDE), generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), alcohol or substance use disorder (AUD/SUD), and suicidal ideation at T2 or T3 among soldiers who completed all study assessments (N = 4,645). Models were adjusted for sociodemographic and Army service characteristics, predeployment history of the index outcome, and deployment stress exposure. Results Higher perceived unit cohesion at T0 was associated with lower risk of PTSD, MDE, GAD, AUD/SUD, and suicidal ideation at T2 or T3 (AORs = 0.72 to 0.85 per standard score increase in unit cohesion; P‐values < 0.05). Models of incidence of mental disorders and suicidal ideation among soldiers without these problems predeployment yielded similar results, except that perceived unit cohesion was not associated with incident AUD/SUD. Conclusions Soldiers who reported strong unit cohesion before deployment had lower risk of postdeployment mental disorders and suicidal ideation. Awareness of associations of perceived unit cohesion with postdeployment mental health may facilitate targeting of prevention programs.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 82%

Prospective associations of perceived unit cohesion with postdeployment mental health outcomes

et al. 2019

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“…Non-Deployed participants and participants with relatively low combat exposure showed little change from pre-deployment symptom levels. Research suggesting that social support moderates the effect of combat intensity on PTSD symptom severity after deployment (Han et al, 2014; Schnurr et al, 2004) was also replicated. Non-Deployed participants and participants with relatively low combat exposure showed little change from pre-deployment symptom levels.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 81%

“…The latter are considered key covariates when analyzing post-deployment outcomes. Combat exposure is known to predict PTSD, and in cross sectional research social support moderated (and perhaps mediated) effects of combat intensity on PTSD severity after deployment (Dirkzwager et al, 2003; Fontana et al, 1997; Han et al, 2014; Kaspersen and Matthiesen, 2003; King et al, 1998; Pietrzak et al, 2009; Polusny et al, 2011; Schnurr et al, 2004; Solomon et al, 1988). However, a recent longitudinal study suggests that social support perception changes post-trauma in relation to PTSD severity, and that social support does not influence subsequent PTSD symptoms (Nickerson et al, 2016).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of military service and deployment on clinical symptomatology: The role of trauma exposure and social support

Moore

Risbrough

Baker

et al. 2017

Journal of Psychiatric Research

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The Marine Resiliency Study-II examined changes in symptomatology across a deployment cycle to Afghanistan. U.S. Servicemembers (N = 1041) received clinical testing at two time points either bracketing a deployment (855) or not (186). Factor analyses were used to generate summary and change scores from Time 1 to Time 2. A between-subject design was used to examine changes across the deployment cycle with deployment (low-trauma, high-trauma, and non-deployed) and social support (low vs. high) as the grouping variables. Insomnia increased post-deployment regardless of deployment trauma (std. effect for high-trauma and low-trauma = 0.39 and 0.26, respectively). Only the high-trauma group showed increased PTSD symptoms and non-perspective-taking (std. effect = 0.40 and 0.30, respectively), while low-trauma showed decreased anxiety symptoms after deployment (std. effect = −0.17). These associations also depend on social support, with std. effects ranging from −0.22 to 0.51. When the groups were compared, the high-trauma deployed group showed significantly worse PTSD and non-perspective-taking than all other groups. Similar to studies in other military divisions, increased clinical symptoms were associated with high deployment stress in active duty Servicemembers, and social support shows promise as a moderator of said association.

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“…As a result, clients may have alienated spouses, children, extended family, and friends, along with potentially damaging professional relationships. To provide effective treatment, social workers in direct service roles may need to assist clients in identifying ways of repairing damaged relationships and helping clients gain more external social supports, a key factor often associated with lower rates of PTSD and better treatment outcomes (Han et al, 2014;Tarrier & Humphreys, 2003;Tsai, HarpazRotem, Pietrzak, & Southwick, 2012;Vranceanu, Hobfoll, & Johnson, 2007). BSW programs may want to include or emphasize content in their practice courses on the importance of relationships and social support for clients who have experienced trauma.…”

Section: Principle 7: Healthy Relationshipsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Integrating a Trauma-Informed Care Perspective in Baccalaureate Social Work Education: Guiding Principles

Vasquez

Boel-Studt

2017

ASW

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Military unit support, postdeployment social support, and PTSD symptoms among active duty and National Guard soldiers deployed to Iraq

Cited by 85 publications

References 26 publications

Prospective associations of perceived unit cohesion with postdeployment mental health outcomes

Prospective associations of perceived unit cohesion with postdeployment mental health outcomes

Effects of military service and deployment on clinical symptomatology: The role of trauma exposure and social support

Integrating a Trauma-Informed Care Perspective in Baccalaureate Social Work Education: Guiding Principles

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