Resilience in the aftermath of war trauma: a critical review and commentary

Litz, Brett T.

doi:10.1098/rsfs.2014.0008

Cited by 34 publications

(20 citation statements)

References 35 publications

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“…Higher workload was associated with more PTSS, while better opportunities for rest and recuperation were associated with less PTSS. This is concurrent with previous findings (Litz, 2014;Prince et al, 2015;Chappelle et al, 2019) and is easily transferrable to the ongoing pandemic. High workloads and excessive work hours have been highlighted as potential sources of mental health problems in COVID-19 HCWs (Spoorthy, 2020).…”

Section: Working Environmentsupporting

confidence: 91%

Caring for Coronavirus Healthcare Workers: Lessons Learned From Long-Term Monitoring of Military Peacekeepers

et al. 2020

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Background: The current outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is of unprecedented proportions in several regards. Recent reports suggest that many frontline healthcare workers (HCWs) suffer from mental health problems, including posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSS). Previous studies have identified several key factors associated with short-term PTSS in pandemic HCWs, yet limited data is available on factors associated with long-term PTSS. Understanding the psychological impact of the pandemic on HCWs is important in planning for future outbreaks of emerging infectious diseases. In the current study, we look to findings from a highly relevant subsection of the trauma field, the military domain. Objective: Pandemic HCWs and military peacekeepers may experience similar stressors in the line of duty. This study investigated whether factors linked to short-term PTSS in pandemic HCWs were also associated with long-term PTSS in military peacekeepers. Materials and Methods: Peacekeepers who reported pandemic-relevant stressors during deployment to a UN peacekeeping mission were included in the study (N = 1,627). PTSS was self-reported using the Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Checklist-Military Version. Descriptive instruments were used to assess possible factors associated with PTSS. A multiple linear regression analysis was performed to explore associations between these factors and PTSS. Results: Our model accounted for 50% of the variance in PTSS, F(1503,11) = 139.00, p < 0.001. Age, relationship and employment status, preparedness, working environment, social support after deployment, barriers to disclose, recognition, and loneliness were all significantly associated with PTSS on average 30 years after

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Section: Working Environmentsupporting

confidence: 91%

Caring for Coronavirus Healthcare Workers: Lessons Learned From Long-Term Monitoring of Military Peacekeepers

et al. 2020

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“…Our findings should be considered in light of study challenges and limitations. As a construct, resilience is complex, multidimensional, and multideterminant (Litz, 2014;Mancini & Bonanno, 2009), and as such, measuring resilience can be challenging. Resilience is often measured by self-report questionnaires, and several high-quality resilience measures exist (for a review, see Windle, Bennett, & Noyes, 2011).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Resilience is defined as “the process of adapting well in the face of adversity, trauma, tragedy, threats, or significant sources of stress” (American Psychology Association, ). Resilience is complex, multiply determined, and has been conceptualized as both an outcome and a process (Litz, ; Mancini & Bonanno, ). Moreover, although early conceptualizations of resilience considered it to be a stable, within‐person trait (Rutter, ), more recent research has conceptualized resilience as modifiable (e.g., Davidson et al., ; Mandleco & Peery, ) and influenced by ecological factors (Harvey, ; Ungar, ).…”

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confidence: 99%

Understanding Gender Differences in Resilience Among Veterans: Trauma History and Social Ecology

Portnoy

Relyea

Decker

et al. 2018

Journal of Traumatic Stress

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A social‐ecological framework for resilience underscores the importance of conceptualizing individuals embedded within their context when evaluating a person's vulnerability and adaptation to stress. Despite a high level of trauma exposure, most veterans exhibit psychological resilience following a traumatic event. Interpersonal trauma is associated with poorer psychological outcomes than noninterpersonal trauma and is experienced more frequently across the lifespan by women as compared to men. In the present study, we examined gender differences in trauma exposure, resilience, and protective factors among veterans. Participants included 665 veterans who completed a baseline survey assessing traumatic events; 544 veterans (81.8%) completed a 1‐year follow‐up survey assessing resilience, combat exposure, deployment social support, deployment preparedness, and military sexual trauma (MST). Principal component analyses revealed the Traumatic Life Events Questionnaire categorized into four meaningful components: sexual abuse, interpersonal violence, stranger violence, and accidents/unexpected trauma. Women reported greater exposure to sexual abuse, d = 0.76; interpersonal violence, d = 0.31; and MST, Cramer's V = 0.54; men reported greater exposure to stranger violence, accidents/unexpected trauma, and combat exposure, ds = 0.24–0.55. Compared to women, men also reported greater social support during deployment, d = 0.46. Hierarchical linear regression indicated that men's resilience scores were higher than women's, β = .10, p = .032, yet this association was no longer significant once we accounted for trauma type, β = .07, p = .197. Results indicate that trauma type is central to resilience and suggest one must consider the social‐ecological context that can promote or inhibit resilient processes.

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“…Recent studies ascertain several psychosocial factors promoting resilience after trauma exposure: optimism (positive projection in the future), cognitive flexibility (the ability to reappraise and reframe trauma and failure), active coping (active seeking of resources and help), and personal moral compass (altruism, spirituality, purpose in life and adaptive positive beliefs) [ 2 ]. Trauma research increasingly addresses resilience and risk in the context of war exposure [ 3 , 4 ], natural disasters [ 5 , 6 ], interpersonal violence [ 7 ] or child abuse [ 8 ]. However, psychological consequences of accidental traumatic events are often underestimated or untimely addressed [ 9 ] and data regarding resilience after life – threatening accidental trauma is still scarce [ 10 ].…”

Section: Background and Aimsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Risk and resilience factors of persons exposed to accidents

Herta

Brindas

Trifu

et al. 2016

Medicine and Pharmacy Reports

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Background and aimsResilience encompasses factors promoting effective functioning in the context of adversity. Data regarding resilience in the wake of accidental trauma is still scarce. The aim of the current study is to comparatively assess adaptive, life – promoting factors in persons exposed to motor vehicle accidents (MVA) vs. persons exposed to other types of accidents, and to identify psychological factors of resilience and vulnerability in this context of trauma exposure.MethodsWe assessed 93 participants exposed to accidents out of 305 eligible patients from the Clinical Rehabilitation Hospital and Cluj County Emergency Hospital. The study used Reasons for Living Inventory (RFL) and Life Events Checklist. Scores were comparatively assessed for RFL items, RFL scale and subscales in participants exposed to motor vehicle accidents (MVA) vs. participants exposed to other life – threatening accidents.ResultsParticipants exposed to MVA and those exposed to other accidents had significantly different scores in 7 RFL items. Scores were high in 4 out of 6 RFL subscales for both samples and in most items comprising these subscales, while in the other 2 subscales and in some items comprising them scores were low.ConclusionsLow fear of death, physical suffering and social disapproval emerge as risk factors in persons exposed to life – threatening accidents. Love of life, courage in life and hope for the future are important resilience factors after exposure to various types of life – threatening accidents. Survival and active coping beliefs promote resilience especially after motor vehicle accidents. Coping with uncertainty are more likely to foster resilience after other types of life – threatening accidents. Attachment of the accident victim to family promotes resilience mostly after MVA, while perceived attachment of family members to the victim promotes resilience after other types of accidents.

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Resilience in the aftermath of war trauma: a critical review and commentary

Cited by 34 publications

References 35 publications

Caring for Coronavirus Healthcare Workers: Lessons Learned From Long-Term Monitoring of Military Peacekeepers

Caring for Coronavirus Healthcare Workers: Lessons Learned From Long-Term Monitoring of Military Peacekeepers

Understanding Gender Differences in Resilience Among Veterans: Trauma History and Social Ecology

Risk and resilience factors of persons exposed to accidents

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