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The association between deployment-related posttraumatic growth among U.S. Army soldiers and negative behavioral
M Shayne Gallaway1, Amy M Millikan, Michael R Bell
1U.S. Army Institute of Public Health. Shayne.Gallaway@us.army.mil
Objectives:
This study assessed posttraumatic growth (PTG) in a sample of U.S. Army Soldiers using the Post-Traumatic Growth Inventory (PTGI), and the relationship between PTG and negative behavioral health (BH) conditions.
Design:
A sample of Soldiers with prior combat deployment experience (n = 1,834) completed an anonymous survey including demographics, the PTGI, and negative BH conditions.
Results:
Among previously deployed Soldiers, those reporting the highest number of combat experiences also reported significantly higher overall PTG. A significant inverse relationship was observed between PTG and recent suicidal ideation, whereby Soldiers reporting recent suicidal ideation reported significantly lower overall PTG.
Conclusions:
This study quantified PTG resulting from deployment and demonstrated the degree to which combat experiences might result in PTG.
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