Risk and resilience factors associated with traumatic loss-related PTSD in U.S. military veterans: Results from the National Health and Resilience in Veterans Study

Psychiatry Res. 2021 Apr:298:113775. doi: 10.1016/j.psychres.2021.113775. Epub 2021 Feb 3.

Abstract

Purpose: Sudden death of a loved one is the most prevalent potentially traumatic event worldwide, yet little is known about risk and resilience factors associated with traumatic loss-related posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Methods: Data from a nationally representative sample of U.S. military veterans were analyzed to identify sociodemographic, military, health and psychosocial correlates of traumatic loss-related PTSD.

Results: Loneliness, somatic symptoms, and attachment style were the strongest correlates of PTSD symptom severity and positive screens for traumatic loss-related PTSD.

Conclusion: Loneliness, somatic symptoms, and attachment style may represent therapeutic targets to help mitigate traumatic loss-related PTSD in U.S. veterans.

Keywords: Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD); Potentially traumatic event (PTE); Resilience; Risk; Traumatic loss; Veterans.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Humans
  • Loneliness
  • Protective Factors
  • Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic* / epidemiology
  • Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic* / etiology
  • United States / epidemiology
  • Veterans*