Combat Exposure, Unit Cohesion, and Demographic Characteristics of Soldiers Reporting Posttraumatic Growth

Abstract

Posttraumatic growth (PTG) refers to the positive cognitive, spiritual, emotional, and social changes that can occur after a traumatic experience. The current study uses data from 1,663 soldiers who participated in a voluntary survey 6 months after redeployment. The purpose of this study was to predict posttraumatic growth from combat exposure, unit cohesion, and demographic characteristics. We found that greater combat exposure and stronger unit cohesion were associated with more PTG. Being married, a minority, and a junior enlisted soldier were also predictive of greater PTG. Our study defines a group of soldiers with low PTG who are at risk for adverse psychosocial problems. Our results suggest that unit cohesion could be targeted and strengthened to improve PTG.

KEYWORDS:

• posttraumatic growth
• social support
• soldiers
• unit cohesion

Notes

^a Fit statistics for exploratory factor analysis (EFA): CFI =.99, RMSEA =.05, free parameters = 15, factor determinancy =.98, eigenvalue = 8.64.

^b Unit cohesion items range from 0–4.

^c Fit statistics for EFA: CFI = 1.00, RMSEA =.00, factor determinancy =.96, eigenvalue = 2.46.

Note. Sample sizes may vary due to missing data on individual items.

^a Range = 0 to 5.

##***p < .001.

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Additional information

Notes on contributors

Mary M. Mitchell

Mary M. Mitchell is a senior epidemiologist at the U.S. Army Public Health Command in the Social and Behavioral Health Outcomes Program. She has focused her career on conducting latent variable modeling analyses.

M. Shayne Gallaway

M. Shayne Gallaway serves as the lead epidemiologist for the U.S. Army Public Health Command Behavioral and Social Health Outcomes Program in development, preparation, and strategic planning of field investigations.

Amy M. Millikan

Amy M. Millikan is the manager of the Behavioral and Social Health Outcomes Program at the U.S. Army Institute of Public Health, Army Public Health Command, where she oversees ongoing analysis and reporting of suicide data among soldiers in the Army.

Michael R. Bell

Michael R. Bell has served in a wide variety of clinical, leadership, and scientific roles during his 20-year career in the Army. He is currently the associate director for the National Capital Consortium Occupational and Environmental Medicine Residency Program at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences.