Purpose in life and posttraumatic stress symptoms among military veterans: A network analysis

Researchers have begun to explore factors that might promote better adjustment following exposure to traumatic events, including the extent to which individuals have a strong sense of meaning in their lives. Given that studies have shown the potential benefits of cultivating meaning in alleviating posttraumatic stress reactions, it is important to pinpoint specific aspects of meaning that may better inform individualized trauma-focused treatments. One aspect of meaning that may be particularly relevant to trauma survivors is reflected in perceptions of purpose in life. The current study explored concurrent associations among elements of purpose and posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSS) in a sample of 423 combat-deployed veterans through the lens of network analysis. We investigated the network structure of purpose and PTSS, as well as which aspects of purpose were negatively associated with PTSS, to identify their connections with resilience and recovery. Most notably, results revealed that having multiple reasons for living and a sense of importance and connection related to everyday pursuits were most strongly linked to lower PTSS. Specific aspects of purpose related to satisfaction and fulfillment were also linked to lower PTSS, though more modestly. Although these findings will need to be confirmed in longitudinal research, they suggest that attending to sense of purpose in veterans and other high-risk populations may facilitate treatment planning in service of fostering greater resiliency to the effects of trauma exposure.