RESOURCES FOR POST-TRAUMATIC GROWTH OF VETERANS
Abstract
Relevance. The purpose of this article is to explore the resource sources of post-traumatic growth of veterans.
Methodology. Methods. To achieve the goal, the Posttraumatic Growth Inventory (PTGI), the Multidimensional Perception of Social Support Scale (MSPSS), the Connor-Davidson Stress Resilience Scale-10 (CD-RISC-10), the PTSD Self-Assessment Scale (PCL-5), and the Generalized Anxiety Inventory (GAD-7) were used. Correlation analysis, Student's t-test, Mann-Whitney U and multiple linear regression were used to process the results.
Sample. The study involved 165 people aged 22 to 55 years. Among them, 82.4% were men (136 people) and 17.6% were women (29 people). 94 respondents were in a relationship or married, 71 were single or divorced. All respondents were veterans and military personnel with experience of participating in combat operations.
Results. The obtained results of the statistical analysis indicate statistically significant weak inverse correlations of post-traumatic growth with anxiety and manifestations of PTSD, as well as positive correlations of medium strength with resilience and perceived support. Regression analysis showed that the most significant factors of post-traumatic growth are resilience (positive impact) and manifestations of PTSD (negative impact). Also among the significant factors are highlighted: support from family and loved ones, the presence of a partner. Anxiety and support from friends were not included in our model as a result of miscalculation. In addition, single individuals are characterized by higher manifestations of PTSD and anxiety.
Conclusions. The findings of the study confirm that the correction of manifestations of post-traumatic stress disorder and the development of resilience, together with the strengthening of partner support, are key factors for supporting post-traumatic growth of veterans. The data obtained can serve as a basis for the development of various veteran development programs aimed at facilitating their reintegration into society.
References
Карамушка, Л. М., Креденцер, О. В., Терещенко, К. В., Карамушка, Т. В., Трофімов, А. Ю., Вісіч, О. Ю., ... & Зварич, Р. М. (2023). Зв'язок копінг-стратегій у кризових ситуаціях у військових, які зазнали ампутації, з їх освітньо-професійними характеристиками. Організаційна психологія. Економічна психологія, (1 (28)), 26-36.
Кокун, О. М., Лозінська, Н. С., Пішко, І. О., & Олійник, В. О. (2025). Діагностика психологічних змін у військовослужбовців в умовах війни: метод. посіб.
Музичко, Л. В. (2023). Психологічна ресурсність особистості та її резильєнтність. Журнал соціальної та практичної психології, (1), 28-33.
Олійник, В. (2023). Основні детермінанти постдосвідного зростання військовослужбовців–учасників бойових дій: теоретичний аналіз. Вісник Національного університету оборони України, 102-110.
Харитонова, Н. (2023). Посттравматичне зростання, як основа психологічного супроводу ветеранів російсько-української війни: огляд досліджень. Psychology travelogs, (1), 167-189.
American Psychiatric Association. (2013). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (5th ed.).
Blais, R. K., Tirone, V., Orlowska, D., Lofgreen, A., Klassen, B., Held, P., ... & Zalta, A. K. (2021). Self-reported PTSD symptoms and social support in US military service members and veterans: A meta-analysis. European Journal of Psychotraumatology, 12(1), 1851078.
Bonanno, G. A. (2004). Loss, trauma, and human resilience: have we underestimated the human capacity to thrive after extremely aversive events?. American psychologist, 59(1), 20.
Calhoun, L. G., & Tedeschi, R. G. (Eds.). (2014). Handbook of posttraumatic growth: Research and practice. Routledge.
Cann, A., Calhoun, L. G., Tedeschi, R. G., Kilmer, R. P., Gil-Rivas, V., Vishnevsky, T., & Danhauer, S. C. (2010). The Core Beliefs Inventory: A brief measure of disruption in assumptions. Anxiety, Stress & Coping, 23, 327–341.
Cann, A., Calhoun, L. G., Tedeschi, R. G., Triplett, K. N., Vishnevsky, T., & Lindstrom, C. M. (2011). Assessing posttraumatic cognitive processes: The Event Related Rumination Inventory. Journal of Traumatic Stress, 24(6), 635–642.
K. M., & Davidson, J. R. T. (2003). Development of a new resilience scale: The Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC). Depression and Anxiety, 18(2), 76–82.
Dekel, S., Goldblatt, H., Keidar-Levin, Y., & Solomon, Z. (2016). Posttraumatic growth among former prisoners of war. Journal of Loss and Trauma, 21(5), 400–419.
Dhungana, S., Alami, A. Z., & Pokharel, N. (2022). Relationship between resilience and anxiety: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Journal of Affective Disorders Reports, 9, 100404.
Ehlers, A., & Clark, D. M. (2000). A cognitive model of posttraumatic stress disorder. Behaviour Research and Therapy, 38, 319–345.
Eysenck, M. W., Derakshan, N., Santos, R., & Calvo, M. G. (2007). Anxiety and cognitive performance: Attentional control theory. Emotion, 7(2), 336–353.
Haddaway, N. R., Hedlund, K., Jackson, L. E., et al. (2018). Social support and PTG: A systematic review. Trauma, Violence & Abuse, 19(6), 1–18.
Hou, W. K., Hall, B. J., & Hobfoll, S. E. (2020). Toward a theory of resilience and growth after trauma. Annual Review of Psychology, 71, 499–526.
Janoff-Bulman, R. (1992). Shattered assumptions: Towards a new psychology of trauma. Free Press.
Larsen, S. E., Pacella, M. L., & O'Connor, R. M. (2021). PTSD and anxiety comorbidity: A review. Clinical Psychology Review, 87, 102036.
Litz, B. T., Stein, N., Delaney, E., Lebowitz, L., Nash, W. P., Silva, C., & Maguen, S. (2009). Moral injury and moral repair in war veterans. Clinical Psychology Review, 29(8), 695–706.
Maguen, S., & Litz, B. (2012). Moral injury in veterans of war. PTSD Research Quarterly, 23(1), 1–6.
Morina, N., Ehring, T., et al. (2010). Posttraumatic growth in adult survivors of war. Journal of Affective Disorders, 127, 271–277.
Mutuyimana, C., Nguyen, H., & Smith, J. (2025). Family support and resilience in veteran adjustment. Journal of Family Psychology
Owens, G. P., Steger, M. F., Whitesell, A. M., & Herrera, C. J. (2022). Mechanisms of posttraumatic growth: A review and integration. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 78(3), 554–571.
Pietrzak, R. H., Goldstein, M. B., Malley, J. C., Johnson, D. C., & Southwick, S. M. (2010). Posttraumatic growth in veterans of Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom. Journal of Affective Disorders, 123, 245–252
ґPietrzak, R. H., et al. (2014). Trajectories of PTSD and posttraumatic growth in combat veterans. Journal of Traumatic Stress, 27, 69–79.
Schubert, C. F., Schmidt, U., & Rosner, R. (2016). Is posttraumatic growth real? Psychological Trauma, 8(5), 521–530.
Shakespeare-Finch, J., & Lurie-Beck, J. (2014). A meta-analytic clarification of the relationship between posttraumatic growth and PTSD. Journal of Anxiety Disorders, 28(2), 223–239.
Southwick, S. M., & Charney, D. (2012). Resilience: The science of mastering life’s greatest challenges. Cambridge University Press.
Tedeschi, R. G., & Calhoun, L. G. (1996). The Posttraumatic Growth Inventory: Measuring the positive legacy of trauma. Journal of Traumatic Stress, 9, 455–471.
Tedeschi, R. G., & Calhoun, L. G. (2004). Posttraumatic growth: Conceptual foundations and empirical evidence. Psychological Inquiry, 15, 1–18.
Triplett, K. N., Tedeschi, R. G., Cann, A., Calhoun, L. G., & Vishnevsky, T. (2012). Posttraumatic growth, meaning in life, and life satisfaction. Psychological Trauma, 4, 400–407.
Tsai, J., El-Gabalawy, R., Sareen, J., & Pietrzak, R. H. (2015). Posttraumatic growth among US military veterans. Psychological Medicine, 45, 2321–2332.
Zoellner, T., & Maercker, A. (2006). Posttraumatic growth in clinical psychology: A critical review. Clinical Psychology Review, 26, 626–653.