The relationship between self-disclosure and symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder in peacekeepers deployed to Somalia

J Trauma Stress. 2003 Jun;16(3):203-10. doi: 10.1023/A:1023754820991.

Abstract

The challenges of peacekeeping place individuals at risk for the development of significant psychological distress (e.g., B. T. Litz, S. Orsillo, M. Freidman, P. Ehlich, & A. Batres, 1997). Self-disclosure has been shown to ameliorate psychological distress following exposure to potentially traumatic events (J. W. Pennebaker & K. D. Harber, 1993). Sharing, or self-disclosure of deployment-related experiences, was the focus of this study and was hypothesized to be associated with adaptation. As part of a larger investigation, 426 U.S. military personnel who served as peacekeepers in Somalia were administered a comprehensive psychosocial questionnaire that included measures of exposure to negative and potentially traumatic experiences, reception at homecoming, self-disclosure, and PTSD symptom severity. The results indicate that adjustment to peacekeeping is significantly related to self-disclosure, especially to supportive significant others.

Publication types

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

MeSH terms

  • Adaptation, Psychological
  • Adult
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Military Personnel / psychology*
  • Prognosis
  • Risk Factors
  • Self Disclosure*
  • Somalia
  • Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / psychology*
  • Warfare*