A Life-span Perspective on Combat Exposure and PTSD Symptoms in Later Life: Findings From the VA Normative Aging Study. (30th August 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Kang, Sungrok; Aldwin, Carolyn M.; Choun, Soyoung; Spiro, Avron
• Is Part Of: Gerontologist. Volume 56:Number 1(2016:Feb.)
• Page Start: 22
• Page End: 32
• Publication Date: 2015-08-30
• Subjects: Combat exposure -- Childhood family environment -- Social support -- Homecoming -- PTSD symptoms; Older people -- Periodicals; Older people -- United States -- Periodicals; 305.2605
• DOI: 10.1093/geront/gnv120
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0016-9013

Abstract

Abstract: Purpose of the Study: We tested a life-span model of combat exposure on posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms in later life, examining the direct and indirect effects of prewar, warzone, and postwar factors. Design and Methods: The sample included 947 male World War II and Korean War veterans from the VA Normative Aging Study ( M age = 65, SD = 7). They completed mail surveys on childhood family environment, military service and postwar experience, stressful life events, and PTSD symptoms (response rates > 80%). Results: We constructed an initial path model testing cumulative advantage and disadvantage pathways. Although all hypothesized relationships were significant, the model was not a good fit to the data. Subsequent models showed that all three life-span periods had both direct and indirect effects on PTSD symptoms and that there were interesting cross-links between the two sets of pathways. Implications: The life-span perspective provides a useful heuristic to model various developmental effects on later-life outcomes. A supportive childhood family environment can have lifelong protective effects, whereas a conflictual one can set up lifelong patterns of pessimistic appraisals.