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Posttraumatic stress disorder, guilt, depression, and meaning in life among military veterans
Author(s) -
Owens Gina P.,
Steger Michael F.,
Whitesell Allison A.,
Herrera Catherine J.
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
journal of traumatic stress
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.259
H-Index - 134
eISSN - 1573-6598
pISSN - 0894-9867
DOI - 10.1002/jts.20460
Subject(s) - depression (economics) , psychology , posttraumatic stress , meaning (existential) , psychiatry , clinical psychology , psychotherapist , economics , macroeconomics
Abstract Veterans of various service eras ( N = 174) completed an Internet survey about combat exposure, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms, depression, guilt, and meaning in life. Results of a hierarchical regression indicated that younger age; higher levels of combat exposure, depression, and guilt; and lower meaning in life predicted greater PTSD severity. The interaction between meaning in life and depression also was significant, with a stronger inverse relation between meaning and PTSD at lower levels of depression. Meaning in life may be an important treatment concern for veterans with PTSD symptoms, particularly at higher levels of functioning.