Potentially traumatic events and post‐traumatic growth among Chinese peacekeepers: A moderated mediation model

Abstract

Peacekeepers are inherently exposed to potentially traumatic events (PTEs) in the line of duty. However, little is known about whether PTEs during peacekeeping missions may foster post‐traumatic growth (PTG) among peacekeepers and its mechanisms. This study aimed to investigate the association between PTEs and PTG among Chinese peacekeepers, as well as the mediating role of coping style and the moderating role of resilience. Five hundred ninety‐five Chinese peacekeepers completing the United Nations (UN) peacekeeping mission in South Sudan and returning to China were recruited to complete Peacekeeping Traumatic Stress Exposure Scale, Posttraumatic Growth Inventory, Simplified Coping Style Questionnaire and the Chinese version of Connor and Davidson's Resilience Scale. PTEs were positively associated with PTG among Chinese peacekeepers. Coping style partially mediated the association between PTEs and PTG. Resilience moderated the association between coping style and PTG. Specifically, at a lower level of resilience, positive coping style was more effective in predicting PTG. This study contributes to understanding the complex association between PTEs in peacekeeping missions, coping style, resilience and PTG by focusing on the experiences of Chinese peacekeepers and adds value to the current literature on psychological health in peacekeepers.

UN peacekeeper health and risk factors --- a systematic scoping review

“…Totally 9 articles reported on behavioral lifestyle factors as health risk factors of UN peacekeepers in multiple troop-contributing and host countries [ 14 , 30 , 52 , 71 , 93 , 104 , 114 , 125 , 131 ].…”

“…One study explored severity PTSD symptoms impacted by exposure to combat directly and indirectly through fear and sexual harassment among U.S. peacekeepers in Somalia [ 130 ]. One study explored understanding the complex association among peacekeepers’ PTSD, coping style, and resilience by focusing on the experiences of Chinese peacekeepers in South Sudan [ 131 ].…”

“… Region of the Americas: Brazil, U.S. Haiti, Multination, Kosovo, Bosnia Longitudinal study, Questionnaire, Cohort study Psychological factors (negative affect traits, no associations with CD4 or CD8 T cell numbers, personality hardness, lack of confidence in care and fears of stigmatization). Behavioral lifestyle factors Mehlum et al 1999 [ 14 ], Alan et al 2000 [ 130 ], Thoresen et al 2004 [ 93 ], Xie et al 2009 [ 71 ], Proctor et al 2009 [ 125 ], Zhang et al 2010 [ 52 ], Connorton et al 2011 [ 30 ], Zhou et al 2016 [ 104 ], Liu et al 2021 [ 114 ], Qu et al 2022 [ 131 ] Western Pacific Region: China Lebanon, Nigeria, Namibia, Ghana, The Democratic Republic of the Congo, Liberia, South Sudan Retrospective study, Questionnaire, Medical report, Cross-sectional study Behavioral lifestyle factors (group living, occupational activities and work-related stress, customs and lifestyles, training intensity, intensive labor, performing tasks at high temperatures, coping styles and resilience). European Region: Norway South Lebanon, Multination Questionnaire, Interview Behavioral lifestyle factors (alcohol consumption, Misuse of alcohol and other substances, suicide risk factors) Region of the Americas: U.S. Somalia, Bosnia Questionnaire, Cohort study Behavioral lifestyle factors (combat and sexual harassment, completing high demands and low control tasks).…”

Effectiveness of online expressive writing in reducing psychological distress among the asymptomatic COVID-19 patients in Fangcang Hospitals: A quasi-experiment study

“…Other studies have suggested the expression of positive emotion words and negative emotion words can improve an individual’s mental state, but the effectiveness of positive emotions produces more ( Burton and King, 2004 ; Pennebaker and Chung, 2007 ). The expression of positive experiences shows that patients are experiencing deliberate rumination, which is more likely to facilitate posttraumatic growth ( Qu et al, 2022 ). Thus, the expression of positive emotion is more associated with the amount of mood change.…”

Impact of the war in Ukraine on resilience, protective, and vulnerability factors

“…Studies on the impact of war on psychological resilience indicate the negative effects of distress, anxiety, and uncertainty on individual and social resilience [e.g., (2)(3)(4)]. Other studies indicate that in face of stressful conditions (e.g., COVID-19 and armed conflict) resilience is predicted not only by negative effects (such as perceived threats) but also by positive effects (such as hope) (5,6).…”