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 language | English (US) |
---|---|
Pages (from-to) | 188-197 |
Number of pages | 10 |
Journal | Journal of abnormal psychology |
Volume | 109 |
Issue number | 2 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Jan 1 2000 |