Original scientific paper
https://doi.org/10.5559/di.25.3.04
Coping Strategies in War Veterans 20 Years After the Exposure to Extreme Stress
Martina Knežević
; Centre for Croatian Studies, Zagreb
Dino Krupić
; Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, Osijek
Sandra Šućurović
; Assembly of Associations of Croatian Guard Units Veterans, Zagreb
Abstract
Many soldiers encounter difficulties while transitioning from military
to civilian life. Such severe traumatic events may also have
long-term effects. Previous studies have shown a strong relationship
between coping strategies and posttraumatic stress disorder
(PTSD) symptoms. The aim of this study was to investigate how
veterans who were exposed to war trauma 20 years ago now
deal with everyday life stressors, and how their current coping
strategies relate to the four-factor model of PTSD. A total of 220
male Croatian Homeland War Veterans between the ages of 38
and 75 participated. Questionnaires included Combat Exposure
Scale, Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Checklist – Military Version
and Ways of Coping Questionnaire. Results showed positive
association between dysphoria and escape-avoidance coping
strategy and negative association between dysphoria and positive
reappraisal coping strategy. Given that dysphoria symptoms are
associated with the chronicity of PTSD and poorer response to
PTSD therapy treatment in war veterans, our results underscore
the importance of treating dysphoria symptoms and promoting
engagement coping strategies for this population.
Keywords
stress; four-factor PTSD model; coping strategies; war veterans; therapy planning
Hrčak ID:
168398
URI
Publication date:
3.11.2016.
Visits: 2.887 *