Exploring how positive and negative social exchanges relate to posttraumatic stress disorder severity among previously deployed men service members/veterans.
Year: 2021
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: OBJECTIVE: Research in civilians and women shows negative social support is more deleterious for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms than are the buffering effects of positive social support. However, this is understudied in male military samples. Moreover, appraisals of social support appear to be the mechanism of the association of social support type and PTSD severity, but appraisals as mediators have not been explored in military samples. METHOD: . Path analyses examined associations of positive and negative social support with PTSD severity and whether appraisals mediated these associations. RESULTS: < .001). Higher positive support was associated with higher appraisals, and in turn, higher appraisals were associated with lower PTSD severity, suggesting mediation. In contrast, the association of negative social support with PTSD was direct. CONCLUSION: Causality cannot be inferred. Positive support exhibits a weaker relationship with PTSD because its effect is dependent on how an individual appraises the support whereas negative support has a direct relationship with PTSD regardless of appraisals. Findings suggest positive support interventions should focus on individual perceptions whereas negative support interventions should focus on decreasing how often these interactions occur. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved).
DOI: 10.1037/tra0001154
Authors: Rebecca K. Blais, Alyson K. Zalta
Language: English
Subfield: Clinical Psychology
Field: Psychology
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
OpenAlex ID: W4200602571