Remote exposure to traumatic events and PTSD symptoms among U.S. Air Force intelligence personnel: Moderating effects of morally injurious experiences.

OBJECTIVES

U.S. Air Force (USAF) intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) personnel continuously view high-resolution, real-time imagery and video feeds that include intermittent exposure to graphic events. This brief report examined whether cumulative exposure (still imagery, video, and audio) to graphic events was associated with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms among USAF ISR personnel. We also examined whether morally injurious experiences (MIEs)-as well as three MIE subtypes: (a) personal moral transgressions, (b) transgressions by others, and (c) feelings of betrayal by others-moderated the association between ISR work-related traumatic exposure and PTSD symptoms.

METHOD

Participants were 277 USAF ISR personnel assigned to intelligence units.

RESULTS

We found two significant moderation effects. First, we found that the association between ISR remote graphic media exposure and PTSD symptoms was strongest for participants with higher levels of MIE exposure. Second, we found that the ISR remote graphic media exposure-PTSD symptoms association was strongest among participants who reported higher levels of MIEs that were self-directed; that is, they reported being troubled with believing they had violated their own morals, values, or principles.

CONCLUSIONS

Findings emphasize the importance of moral injury in understanding PTSD symptoms in ISR personnel. Specifically, because MIEs and PTSD are possible in remote combat agents, prevention and intervention efforts for ISR actors should directly target this special population with recognition that (a) remote combat exposure can be traumatic and (b) perceived violations of moral beliefs or values may be central to any posttraumatic psychopathology. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved).