Open AccessMilitary sexual trauma, combat exposure, and negative urgency as independent predictors of PTSD and subsequent alcohol problems among OEF/OIF veterans.
Author(s) -
Austin M. Hahn,
Christine K. Tirabassi,
Raluca M. Simons,
Jeffrey S. Simons
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
psychological services
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.855
H-Index - 45
eISSN - 1939-148X
pISSN - 1541-1559
DOI - 10.1037/ser0000060
Subject(s) - psychiatry , injury prevention , posttraumatic stress , alcohol , clinical psychology , psychology , poison control , human factors and ergonomics , psychological intervention , suicide prevention , occupational safety and health , medicine , medical emergency , chemistry , pathology , biochemistry
This study tested a path model of relationships between military sexual trauma (MST), combat exposure, negative urgency, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms, and alcohol use and related problems. The sample consisted of 86 Operation Enduring Freedom/Operation Iraqi Freedom (OEF/OIF) veterans who reported drinking at least one alcoholic beverage per week. PTSD mediated the relationships between MST and alcohol-related problems, negative urgency and alcohol-related problems, and combat exposure and alcohol-related problems. In addition, negative urgency had a direct effect on alcohol problems. These results indicate that MST, combat exposure, and negative urgency independently predict PTSD symptoms and PTSD symptoms mediate their relationship with alcohol-related problems. Findings support previous literature on the effect of combat exposure and negative urgency on PTSD and subsequent alcohol-related problems. The current study also contributes to the limited research regarding the relationship between MST, PSTD, and alcohol use and related problems. Clinical interventions aimed at reducing emotional dysregulation and posttraumatic stress symptomology may subsequently improve alcohol-related outcomes.