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Show COLLEGE OF SOCIAL «k BEHAVIORAL SCIENCE THE IMPORTANCE OF UNIT SUPPORT AND COHESION AS A PROTECTIVE FACTOR AGAINST POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER AND DEPRESSION Erica Armstrong (Craig Bryan, AnnaBelle Bryan) Department of Psychology/National Center for Veterans Studies University of Utah Background Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depressive symptoms are rising in prevalence within the United States Military, and much research has been conducted to determine which factors can provide protection against these disorders. Previous research suggests that unit support and cohesion may play an important role as a buffer against psychological difficulties, although some research suggests that unit cohesion acts as a protector only in lower, but not higher, levels of warzone stress. Methods To test this idea, a sample of Air Force Special Operations Forces (SOF) personnel completed a packet of self-report surveys that assessed severity of PTSD and depression, as well as levels of combat exposure (e.g., shooting weapons, being fired upon), exposure to the aftermath of battle (e.g., seeing dead bodies, caring for the injured), and unit cohesion. Results Table 1 Findings revealed that participants had low levels of PTSD and depression, which was expected in a non-clinical sample. Findings also revealed a high correlation between PTSD and depression (r = .625). However, while depression and combat exposure were highly correlated (r = .243), PTSD and combat exposure were not. PTSD and the aftermath of battle, on the other hand, were even more highly correlated (r = .318). Table 2, Figure 1 Results of regression analyses indicate that unit support is associated with significantly less severe depression (B = -.173, SE = .049, p < .001), but greater combat exposure is associated with significantly more severe depression (B = -.333, SE = .1645, p = .043). Findings revealed a significant interaction of unit support with combat exposure (B = .006, SE = .0030, p = .033). The form of the interaction is displayed in Figure 1. The Johnson-Neyman test indicated that the interaction was significant only at low combat exposure values. Results of regression analyses indicate that unit support is associated with significantly decreased PTSD symptoms (B = -.330, SE = .1214, p = .007). These results suggest that unit cohesion protects against depression among SOF personnel with lower levels of combat exposure, and is associated with less severe PTSD regardless of combat exposure. Table 2 Table I l.Age 2 Dcprcwion 3 PTSD *>• Unit Support 5. CES 6. ABS M SD 192* 0.42 -.106 -.175 -.175 30.27 6.09 _ .625" -.079 .243* .207 1.99 2.50 _ -.162 .207 .318** 3.78 5.74 _ .399* .353** 51.51 8.89 _ .722** 33.04 10.52 - 31.27 12.88 S**mfiomi values: • mdicato p < U5; *" mdicjlw p - .01 Depression Unit Support CES ABS Unit Support' Unit Support* PTSD Unit Support CES ABS Unit Support* Unit Support* CES ABS CES ABS -.173 -.333 .095 .006 -.002 -.330 -.313 -.066 .002 .006 .0490 .1645 .1313 .0030 .0025 .1214 .2820 .1958 .0036 .0049 .000 .043 .470 033 .508 .007 .266 .737 .531 .256 1.4 1.2 • * i L i« 0.2 0 " " - • - - arts*--. ""-----_ ---"^/ --'"'^ / / High unit ru -.- - pal - * « M -L..M. Erica Armstrong Craig Bryan |
