Potentially morally injurious events and posttraumatic stress symptom change across the military-to-civilian...

This prospective study examined whether exposure to potentially morally injurious events (PMIEs), specifically self-attributed transgressions, other-attributed transgressions, and experiences of betrayal, predicted change in posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSS) and reintegration difficulty during the military-to-civilian transition (MCT). U.S. Army soldiers (N = 815) completed surveys approximately 6 months before separation (Time 1 [T1]) and 6 months after separation (Time 2 [T2]). PMIEs were assessed at T1, PTSS was assessed at both points, and reintegration difficulty was assessed at T2. Analyses used hierarchical linear regression and moderation models, adjusting for demographic and service-related covariates. Betrayal-related PMIEs uniquely predicted higher PTSS at T2, β = .09, p = .014, after controlling for baseline PTSS, whereas self- and other-attributed transgressions were nonsignificant. Betrayal-related PMIEs also predicted higher levels of reintegration difficulty above and beyond the contributions of PTSS and combat exposure, β = .13, p = .003. Interaction effects by gender and relationship status were statistically significant but small, ΔR² = .015. Across models, effect sizes for betrayal-related PMIEs were modest, βs = .09-.15. Because the PTSD Checklist-Military Version was administered without anchoring responses to a specific traumatic event, the findings reflect general stress-related distress rather than DSM-defined PTSD. Overall, the results indicate that betrayal-based PMIEs represent a modest yet consistent risk factor for psychological and functional difficulties during the MCT, underscoring the value of differentiating PMIE subtypes in screening and intervention.