Department of Psychology, Ariel University, Ariel, Israel.
Stress Health. 2024 Oct;40(5):e3486. doi: 10.1002/smi.3486. Epub 2024 Sep 19.
Posttraumatic growth (PTG) is a possible common reaction to exposure to potentially traumatic events (PTEs) during military service. However, knowledge about correlates of PTG among female combat veterans is sparse. This study examines associations between combat exposure, posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSS), general self-efficacy (GSE), and PTG among Israeli female veterans. This is a cross-sectional studyA volunteer sample of female Israeli combat veterans (n = 616) and non-combat veterans (n = 484) responded to self-report questionnaires. Combat veterans reported higher levels of combat exposure, PTSS, GSE, and PTG, as compared to non-combat veterans. Among combat veterans, combat exposure and GSE were associated with greater PTG. Importantly, PTSS and GSE mediated the link between combat exposure and PTG. The study's findings are among the first to report about possible psychological growth outcomes among Israeli combat veterans. Clinicians treating female veterans coping with combat trauma should be aware of the heterogeneity of reactions to military service challenges and the importance of enhancing veterans' GSE to facilitate PTG.
创伤后成长（PTG）是一种可能的常见反应，对于暴露于潜在创伤性事件（PTEs）在兵役期间。然而，关于女性战斗退伍军人的 PTG 的相关知识却很少。本研究探讨了以色列女性退伍军人中战斗暴露、创伤后应激症状（PTSS）、一般自我效能感（GSE）和 PTG 之间的关联。这是一项横断面研究，一项由 616 名以色列女性战斗退伍军人和 484 名非战斗退伍军人组成的志愿者样本，他们对自我报告的问卷做出了回应。与非战斗退伍军人相比，战斗退伍军人报告了更高水平的战斗暴露、创伤后应激症状、一般自我效能感和创伤后成长。在战斗退伍军人中，战斗暴露和 GSE 与更大的 PTG 有关。重要的是，PTSS 和 GSE 介导了战斗暴露与 PTG 之间的联系。该研究的发现是首批报告以色列战斗退伍军人中可能出现的心理成长结果之一。治疗应对战斗创伤的女性退伍军人的临床医生应该意识到对军事服务挑战的反应的异质性，以及增强退伍军人的 GSE 以促进 PTG 的重要性。
