Limitations of benefit finding as a coping mechanism for combat-related PTSD symptoms

ABSTRACT

Benefit finding has been identified as a buffer of the combat exposure-PTSD symptom link in soldiers. However, benefit finding may have a limited buffering capacity on the combat-PTSD symptom link over the course of a soldier’s post-deployment recovery period. In the present study, soldiers returning from Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) were surveyed at two different time periods post-deployment: Time 1 was 4 months post-deployment (n = 1,510), and Time 2 was at 9 months post-deployment (n = 783). The surveys assessed benefit finding, PTSD symptoms, and combat exposure. Benefit finding was a successful buffer of the cross-sectional relationship between combat exposure and PTSD reexperiencing symptoms at Time 1, but not at Time 2. In addition, the benefit finding by combat interaction at time 1 revealed that greater benefit finding was associated with higher symptoms under high combat exposure at Time 2 after controlling for PTSD arousal symptoms at Time 1. The results of the present study indicate that benefit finding may have a buffering capacity in the immediate months following a combat deployment, but also indicates that more time than is allotted during the post-deployment adjustment period is needed to enable recovery from PTSD. Theoretical implications are discussed.

KEYWORDS:

• Combat stress
• PTSD symptoms
• military
• benefit finding
• posttraumatic growth

Acknowledgments

This paper would not be possible without the efforts, guidance, and inspiration from Kathleen P. Wright, PhD.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Data availability statement

The data supporting the findings in this study are not publicly available on request from the corresponding author, [MDW], because they are still under an active Walter Reed Army Institute of Research. Protocol.

Notes

1. In addition to examining overall differences between time 1 participants and matched participants, we also examined whether rank and multiple deployments may relate to differences in study variables of interest, namely – benefit finding, PTSD symptoms and combat exposure. Bivariate associations revealed no significant relationship between rank, combat exposure, and time 2 PTSD symptoms. The increase in rank was associated with a an increase in benefit finding F(2, 378) = 9.52, p < .001. Officers / warrant officers reported higher benefit finding (M = 3.90, SD = 0.57), than junior enlisted soldiers (M = 3.29, SD = 0.80) and noncommissioned officers (M = 3.33, SD = 0.67). Furthermore, the increase in rank was also related to a decrease in time 1 PTSD symptoms F(2, 378) = 4.81, p < .01, such that, officers / warrant officers showed a significantly lower time 1 PTSD symptoms (M = 1.45, SD = 0.58) than junior enlisted soldiers (M = 1.95, SD = 0.80), or noncommissioned officers (M = 1.89, SD = 0.67). Multiple deployments showed no significant relationship with combat exposure, time 1 PTSD symptoms or time 2 PTSD symptoms. The increase in multiple deployments was associated with a decrease in benefit finding F(1, 385) = 4.25, p < .05. First time deployers reported higher benefit finding (M = 3.41, SD = 0.75), than multiple deployers (M = 3.25, SD = 0.71).

2. Additional hierarchical regression analyses were conducted using the cross-sectional group of matched participants at time 2. Demographics did not significantly predict PTSD symptoms F change (3, 368) = 2.38, p= .07; however, similar to previous models where combat exposure predicted more PTSD symptoms, ΔR² = .09, F change (1, 367) = 39.27, p < .01, benefit finding was associated with fewer PTSD symptoms ΔR² = .04, F change (1, 366) = 18.01, p < .01, and the interaction between combat exposure and benefit finding failed to predict PTSD symptoms ΔR² = .00, F change (1, 365) = .00, p = .95.

Additional information

Funding

The findings described in this article were collected under a Walter Reed Army Institute of Research Protocol. The views expressed in this article reflect those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official policy or position of the U.S. Army Medical Command or the Department of Defense. Military Operational Medicine Research Program (MOMRP).