Savouring as a moderator of the combat exposure–mental health symptoms relationship

Abstract

Engaging in firefights or witnessing death and other types of combat experiences are occupational hazards associated with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and depression in military personnel returning from combat deployments. The present study examined savouring beliefs as a moderator of the relationship between combat exposure and mental health symptoms among U.S. Army soldiers deployed to Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom. Soldiers (N = 885) completed measures of combat exposure, savouring beliefs, PTSD, and depression. Savouring was negatively related to symptoms of PTSD and depression and moderated the relationship between combat exposure and PTSD and depression among military personnel. These findings demonstrate that savouring positive life experiences may be beneficial to overall positive mental health and potentially buffer negative mental health symptoms related to traumatic experiences. Discussion focuses on the possibility of training individuals exposed to trauma in savouring techniques.

Current Progress and Future Directions for Theory and Research on Savoring

“…Research with older adults has also investigated the role of savoring in promoting resilience ( Smith and Hollinger-Smith, 2015 ) and positive attitudes toward aging ( Bryant et al, 2021 ), improving physical health ( Geiger et al, 2017 ), buffering the deleterious effects of illness on subjective well-being ( Smith and Bryant, 2016 ), and lowering cardiovascular reactivity and boosting agency ( Borelli et al, 2020 ). Savoring has also been identified as a resource in bereavement ( Permanadeli and Sundararajan, 2021 ), in lowering suicide risk ( Klibert et al, 2019 ), and in protecting soldiers from the psychological effects of combat exposure ( Sytine et al, 2018 ); and kill-joy thinking has been found to mediate the relationship between depression symptomatology and gambling disorder severity ( Rogier et al, 2019 ). In addition, researchers have used savoring to increase people’s consumption of healthy foods ( Coary and Poor, 2016 ), decrease overeating ( Black and Areni, 2016 ), and promote healthy relationships with food ( Batat et al, 2019 ).…”

Stress, savouring, and coping: The role of savouring in psychological adjustment following a stressful life event

“…More recently, there has been increasing research on the important role savouring might play in the adjustment to a stressful life event. For example, the relationship between savouring capacity and better psychological adjustment is found in the context of stressful life events, such as negative life events in college life (Ford, Klibert, Tarantino, & Lamis, ), combat exposure (Sytine, Britt, Pury, & Rosopa, ), and stressful events in the couple life (Samios & Khatri, ). Further, neuroscience research supports the restorative function of reminiscing or recalling positive memories in the context of stress (Speer & Delgado, ).…”

Savoring Sport: Connections With Athlete Passion and Burnout

“…Athletes may profit from similar types of brief interventions designed to help them make the most of positive experiences that have already taken place (i.e., reminiscing), that they are currently experiencing (i.e., savoring the moment), and that they expect to experience in the future (i.e., anticipating). Based on past savoring research (e.g., Doorley & Kashdan, 2021;Sytine et al, 2018), such savoring interventions could enhance athlete well-being by both enhancing ongoing positive emotional experiences, and by buffering the impact of negative events on negative emotional reactions. However, we should emphasize that research on savoring behavior among athletes is in its infancy.…”

“…Savoring has been associated with greater feelings of happiness shortly after positive events (Jose et al, 2012), greater life satisfaction (Hurley & Kwon, 2013;, and lower levels of negative affect, stress, and depression (Bryant, 2003;Hurley & Kwon, 2012;Wilson et al, 2020). Savoring has also been shown to buffer the impact that negative life events have on negative emotional reactions and mental health symptoms (Sytine et al, 2018;2019). Despite these known benefits, little research has studied savoring among athletes.…”