Morale as a Moderator of the Combat Exposure-PTSD Symptom Relationship

We examined morale as a moderator of the relationship between combat exposure and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms in a longitudinal study of U.S. soldiers who had participated in a deployment to Iraq. Soldiers (N = 636) completed assessments at 4 (Time 1) and 10 (Time 2) months following their combat deployment. Combat exposure (both breadth and perceived stressfulness), morale, and PTSD symptoms were assessed at Time 1, and PTSD symptoms were assessed again at Time 2. Results of multivariate multiple regressions revealed that morale at Time 1 interacted with both the breadth and stressfulness of combat exposure to predict PTSD symptoms at both Time 1 and Time 2, even when partialling out the effect of unit support. The slope of the given combat exposure and PTSD symptoms relationship was weaker when reports of morale were higher (with the effect size of the interaction ranging from .01 to .04). The results suggest that morale may buffer soldiers from the negative consequences of combat stressors. Traditional and Simplified Chinese s by AsianSTSS 標題：士氣在創傷後壓力症(面對戰鬥類別) 症狀關係中的中介作用 撮要：本縱向研究對象為曾派駐伊拉克的美國士兵(N = 636)，他們分別在派駐後四個月(時間1)和10個月(時間2)完成一系列評估，而本文將闡述士氣在創傷後壓力症(面對戰鬥類別)症狀關係中的中介作用。 「時間1」評估包括面對戰鬥的幅度和壓力感受、士氣和創傷後壓力症狀；而「時間2」只評估創傷後壓力症狀。即使撇除部隊支援的部分，多重多元回歸的結果顯示「時間1」的士氣與面對戰鬥的幅度和壓力感受相互的影響可預測「時間1」和「時間2」的創傷後壓力症狀。當「士氣」高昂時，面對戰鬥與創傷後壓力症狀之間的關係線鈄度會降低(其關係有效值為.01至.04)。研究結果指出士氣可緩衝軍人應對戰鬥壓力的負面影響。 标题：士气在创伤后压力症(面对战斗类别) 症状关系中的中介作用 撮要：本纵向研究对象为曾派驻伊拉克的美国士兵(N = 636)，他们分别在派驻后四个月(时间1)和10个月(时间2)完成一系列评估，而本文将阐述士气在创伤后压力症(面对战斗类别)症状关系中的中介作用。 「时间1」评估包括面对战斗的幅度和压力感受、士气和创伤后压力症状；而「时间2」只评估创伤后压力症状。即使撇除部队支持的部分，多重多元回归的结果显示「时间1」的士气与面对战斗的幅度和压力感受相互的影响可预测「时间1」和「时间2」的创伤后压力症状。当「士气」高昂时，面对战斗与创伤后压力症状之间的关系线钭度会降低(其关系有效值为.01至.04)。研究结果指出士气可缓冲军人应对战斗压力的负面影响。