http://orcid.org/0000-0001-8038-1461
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Abstract
Returning veterans are at elevated risk for developing posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), a psychological disorder that is associated with poor family functioning and difficulties in interpersonal relationships. Evidence suggests that better training and deployment preparedness can serve as a protective factor against PTSD; however, little research has analyzed their long-term impact on both PTSD and family outcomes. The current study examined the relationships among training and deployment preparedness, family functioning, and PTSD both cross-sectionally and prospectively in a sample of 98 post-9/11 veterans. Perceptions of deployment preparedness had a significant negative indirect effect on PTSD symptom severity through family functional impairment at baseline, and the effect remained significant at 8-month follow-up assessment. Veterans who indicated that they were better trained and prepared for deployment had significantly lower PTSD symptoms and family functional impairment, and these perceptions impacted long-term PTSD symptom severity. The results suggest that deployment training and preparedness can impact PTSD symptoms and family functioning, and have long-term consequences on veterans’ personal and family experiences.
Acknowledgment
The views expressed in this article are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the position or policy of the Department of Veterans Affairs or the United States government.