The high rates of PTSD among veterans regardless of their ethnicity-related personal characteristics may be regarded as a disturbing issue that require efficient response. At the same time, the analysis of existing literature dedicated to the development and improvement of PTG indicates its overall prevalence in veterans (Palmer et al., 2017; Pietrzak et al., 2021; Wu et al., 2019). However, the methods of improvement of veterans’ health should be considered, and on the basis of multiple research, it is possible to establish strong correlation between social connectedness or support along with coping practices and PTG in veterans.
The severity of trauma and a veteran’s health and sociodemographic and psychosocial factors affect the efficiency of the recovery process. At the same time, multiple authors prove that social support and connectedness with family members, relatives, friends, and other members of the community contribute to PTG and the minimization of the signs of PTSD in veterans (Nordstrand et al., 2020; Blais et al., 2021). At the same time, studies indicate the prevalence of the efficiency of community support over support perceived from military sources (Blais et al., 2021). However, the level of support is impacted by attitudes and beliefs that exist in society. Thus, minority veterans report “heightened stress and lower social support in challenging times” (Blais et al., 2021, p. 2). In addition, the presence of discriminative practices during military service may be regarded as an additional factor that contributes to the severity of PTSD in minority veterans (Sohn & Harada, 2008). All in all, social support is essential for PTG, however, attitudes toward veterans’ sociodemographic variables may impact the efficiency of their recovery within the framework of social connectedness.
Professional assistance in relation to coping with PTSD is efficient as well. In particular, adaptive and maladaptive coping, active coping, spiritual coping, and emotional coping are associated with the development of PTG (Mattson et al., 2018). At the same time, the choice of coping style depends on post-trauma outcomes the purposes of the intervention, and veteran’s personality traits and individual characteristics. According to Pole et al. (2005), “coping style can predict the psychological consequences of traumatic stress, with the general finding being that active or problem-solving coping leads to better outcomes than passive or avoidance coping” (p. 146). Nevertheless, the use of coping style should consider a veteran’s ethnicity and associated cultural peculiarities and additional discrimination-related struggles.
References
Blais, R. K., Tirone, V., Orlowska, D., Lofgreen, A., Klassen, B., Held, P., Stevens, N., & Zalta, A. K. (2021). Self-reported PTSD symptoms and social support in US military service members and veterans: a meta-analysis. European Journal of Psychotraumatology, 12(1851078), 1-18. 78. Web.
Mattson, E., James, L., & Engdahl, B. (2018). Personality factors and their impact on PTSD and post-traumatic growth is mediated by coping style among OIF/OEF veterans. Military Medicine, 183(9-10), 475-480. Web.
Nordstrand, A. E., Bøe, H. J., Holen, A., Reichelt, J. G., Gjerstad, C. L., & Hjemdal, O. (2020). Social support and disclosure of war-zone experiences after deployment to Afghanistan—Implications for posttraumatic deprecation or growth. Traumatology, 26(4), 1-13. Web.
Palmer, E., Murphy, D., & Spencer-Harper, L. (2017). Experience of post-traumatic growth in U.K. veterans with PTSD: A qualitative study. Journal of the Royal Army Medical Corps, 163(3), 171–176. Web.
Pietrzak, R. H., Tsai, J., & Southwick, S. M. (2021). Association of symptoms of posttraumaticpost-traumatic stress disorder with posttraumaticpost-traumatic psychological growth among U.S. veterans during the COVID-19 pandemic. JAMA Network Open, 4(4). Web.
Pole, N., Best, S. R., Metzler, T., & Marmar, C. R. (2005). Why are Hispanics at greater risk for PTSD?. Cultural Diversity and Ethnic Minority Psychology, 11(2), 144-161.
Sohn, L., & Harada, N. D. (2008). Effects of racial/ethnic discrimination on the health status of minority veterans. Military Medicine, 173(4), 331-338. Web.
Wu, X., Kaminga, A. C., Dai, W., Deng, J., Wang, Z., Pan, X., & Liu, A. (2019). The prevalence of moderate-to-high posttraumatic growth: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Journal of Affective Disorders, 243, 408-415.