Psychological Hardiness and Avoidance Coping Are Related to Risky Alcohol Use in Returning Combat Veterans

Abstract

This study examines psychological hardiness and avoidance coping as predictors of risk for alcohol abuse in military personnel following war-zone deployment. U.S. Army soldiers returning from Afghanistan completed questionnaire surveys during their first week home, and again seven to nine months later. The Time 1 survey was administered in paper form during soldier administrative processing to home station. The Time 2 follow-up survey was administered electronically over the Internet. Data were analyzed using blockwise sequential logistic regressions, with age, rank, and combat exposure entered as covariates. Results show that low psychological hardiness, more combat exposure, younger age, and lower rank are associated with increased risk of alcohol abuse soon after return from deployment. At follow-up, avoidance coping was a significant predictor of risky alcohol use. These results suggest that alcohol screening programs for returning veterans may be improved by including assessment of such psychological variables as hardiness and avoidance coping.

Keywords:

• Hardiness
• avoidance coping
• alcohol use
• combat exposure
• military

FUNDING

This study was supported by a grant from the U.S. Army Medical Research and Materiel Command, under the Deployment Related Medical Research Program; award number W81XWH-09-2-0195. Additional data analysis and logistical support came from the University of Bergen and the National Defense University. Administrative support was provided by the Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine. We are grateful to the U.S. Army National Guard for supporting this study and to the soldiers and leaders who participated.