The Influence of Just World Beliefs on the Stigmatization of Combat-Related PTSD

Abstract

The fear of stigmatization by nonmilitary community members has been identified as a significant barrier to care for military members seeking mental health services. Research exploring the constructs that contribute to the stigmatizing views of military-specific mental health issues is absent from current literature. This study examined the predictive value of just world beliefs on specific constructs of stigmatizing attitudes (i.e., mental health ideology, social restriction, benevolence) toward individuals with combat-related posttraumatic stress disorder. The findings provide guidance regarding the development of antistigma interventions and educational campaigns that may reduce levels of stigmatization by community members, with the long-term goal of diminishing military members' fear of community stigmatization as a barrier to seeking mental health services.

Keywords:

• Combat-related PTSD
• stigmatization
• just world perspective