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Factors associated with antisocial behavior in combat veterans
Stephanie Booth-Kewley1, Gerald E Larson, Robyn M Highfill-McRoy
1Behavioral Science and Epidemiology Department, Naval Health Research Center, San Diego, California 92106, USA. stephanie.kewley@med.navy.mil
Aggressive Behavior
|July 14, 2010
Summary
Post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms and deployment stressors are linked to antisocial behavior in Marines. Addressing modifiable stressors like deployment length could reduce behavioral issues.
Area of Science:
- Military mental health
- Behavioral science
- Combat psychology
Background:
- Antisocial behavior presents challenges in military populations.
- Understanding risk factors is crucial for intervention.
Purpose of the Study:
- Identify factors associated with antisocial behavior in Marines deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan.
- Examine the relative impact of various stressors and individual characteristics.
Main Methods:
- Multivariate analyses were conducted on data from 1,543 Marines.
- The study focused on deployments between 2002 and 2007.
Main Results:
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms showed the strongest association with antisocial behavior.
- Deployment-related stressors, combat exposure, younger age, and divorce were also significant factors.
- A notable finding was the link between deployment stressors and increased antisocial behavior.
Conclusions:
- PTSD symptoms are a primary correlate of antisocial behavior in combat-deployed Marines.
- Deployment-related stressors represent a potentially modifiable target for interventions.
- Military strategies such as optimizing deployment length and enhancing home communication may mitigate antisocial behavior.
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