Friendship in War: Camaraderie and Prevention of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Prevention

Abstract

Aspects of social support during combat deployment, such as ‘unit cohesion,’ have been shown to affect later posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) development among veterans. We utilized a longitudinal database to assess how relationship quality with fellow soldiers in World War II (WWII) might be linked with postwar PTSD symptoms. Data were available on 101 men who experienced combat exposure in WWII documented through postwar assessment. Upon study entry (1939 to 1942), data were collected on participants' early childhood relationships quality and their emotional adjustment during college. Data on WWII experiences were collected in 1946. Relationship quality with fellow soldiers in WWII was examined as a moderator of the link between combat exposure and postwar PTSD symptoms. Prewar emotional adjustment was examined as a mediator between quality of childhood relationships and subsequent relationship quality with fellow soldiers during war. Better quality relationships with fellow soldiers attenuated (i.e., moderated) the link between combat exposure severity and PTSD symptom count, explaining a significant percent of the variance, R2 = .19, p < .001. There was also a significant indirect mediation effect of childhood relationship quality on relationships with soldiers through prewar emotional adjustment, ab = 0.02, 95% BCa CI [0.01, 0.05]. Results suggest that better peer relationship quality during deployment may reduce the likelihood of subsequent PTSD symptom development, and that the quality of early relationships may set the stage for better relationships during stressful contexts such as war. These findings have implications for PTSD risk factor screening prior to deployment, and underscore the importance of interpersonal support among soldiers during deployment.

Understanding the Education-Related Needs of Contemporary Male Veterans

“…Research indicates that a sense of connection and belonging positively affects student retention in higher education, including students in marginalized populations (Boyd, Blue, & Im, ; Costen, Waller, & Wozencroft, ), and retention is key to degree completion. Recent research has revealed that social support and unit cohesion during deployment are important factors in successful reentry to civilian life and lessened frequency of PTSD diagnoses (Nevarez, Yee, & Waldinger, ). In addition, healthy social relationships both pre‐ and postdeployment also enhance a returning serviceperson’s well‐being (Elder & Clipp, ).…”

Mobilizing an institutional supportive response for healthcare workers and other staff in the context of COVID-19: The Yale experience

“…Our group developed a shared vision through collaboration. It drew on a mindfulness-informed approach to stress management [ 7 ], a resilience-promoting wellness-oriented perspective [ 8 ], a scientifically-based model for human resilience [ 9 ], a disaster-oriented brief intervention [ 10 ], a peer support model developed to support military personnel in combat [ 11 , 12 ], an expert approach to parenting [ 13 , 14 ], and other psychotherapeutic and educational perspectives. We viewed reported stress symptoms as part of a normal reaction to an extreme situation and we strove to avoid pathologizing these normal responses.…”

Reconceptualizing the U.S. Military’s Transition Assistance Program: The Success in Transition Model

“…Military camaraderie can be described as social cohesion or the forming of highly close connections and friendships among military members as they jointly work toward accomplishing their mission (Angel et al, 2018;Hinojosa & Hinojosa, 2011). It has been found to be one of the primary components of military service that veterans miss the most after they leave the service (Nevarez, Yee, & Waldinger, 2017). Camaraderie can enable military members to overcome barriers often associated with asking for assistance (Hinojosa & Hinojosa, 2011;Menger, Robbins, & Bell, 2017).…”

“…Camaraderie can enable military members to overcome barriers often associated with asking for assistance (Hinojosa & Hinojosa, 2011;Menger, Robbins, & Bell, 2017). Aspects of camaraderie, especially when it is formed during military deployment, have been shown to decrease the development and severity of PTSD along with aiding in recovery from trauma responses (Nevarez et al, 2017;Wright, Kelsall, Sim, Clarke, & Creamer, 2013). Infusing features of camaraderie into education and social service programs is also linked with improved retention/use of material and higher levels of participation (Brake & Kelly, 2019;Harrod et al, 2016).…”