Coping with Gulf War combat stress: Mediating and moderating effects

Erica J. Sharkansky, Daniel W. King, Lynda A. King, Jessica Wolfe, Darin J. Erickson, Lynissa R. Stokes

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

127 Scopus citations

Abstract

The authors examined relationships between method of coping with combat-related stress and psychological symptoms among Gulf War Army personnel (N = 1,058). Participants were surveyed on return from the Gulf region (Time 1) with the Coping Responses Inventory (R. Moos, 1990) and a measure of combat exposure. Outcomes were symptom measures of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression. At Time 2 (18-24 months) participants completed the same symptom measures and an index of postwar stress. Higher proportions of approach-based coping in the war zone were related to lower levels of psychological symptoms. Combat exposure moderated the effects of coping on Time 1 PTSD. Coping predicted changes in symptoms of depression but not PTSD. Combat exposure affected changes in depression through postwar stress but had a direct negative effect on PTSD.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)188-197
Number of pages10
JournalJournal of abnormal psychology
Volume109
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - Jan 1 2000

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Coping with Gulf War combat stress: Mediating and moderating effects'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this