The association between deployment-related posttraumatic growth among U.S. Army soldiers and negative behavioral health conditions.

OBJECTIVES

This study assessed posttraumatic growth (PTG) in a sample of U.S. Army Soldiers using the Post-Traumatic Growth Inventory (PTGI), and the relationship between PTG and negative behavioral health (BH) conditions.

DESIGN

A sample of Soldiers with prior combat deployment experience (n = 1,834) completed an anonymous survey including demographics, the PTGI, and negative BH conditions.

RESULTS

Among previously deployed Soldiers, those reporting the highest number of combat experiences also reported significantly higher overall PTG. A significant inverse relationship was observed between PTG and recent suicidal ideation, whereby Soldiers reporting recent suicidal ideation reported significantly lower overall PTG.

CONCLUSIONS

This study quantified PTG resulting from deployment and demonstrated the degree to which combat experiences might result in PTG.