Impact of Combat and Social Support on PTSD and Alcohol Consumption in OEF/OIF Veterans

Authors

Megan Avery, The University of Memphis, Memphis, Tennessee; Memphis Veterans' Affairs Medical Center, Memphis, Tennessee.Follow
Meghan McDevitt-Murphy, The University of Memphis, Memphis, Tennessee; Memphis Veterans' Affairs Medical Center, Memphis, Tennessee.

Abstract

We tested buffering and direct effect theories of social support to determine if combat exposure level moderated relationships between two aspects of social support (unit cohesion and postdeployment support) and two outcomes (PTSD and alcohol consumption) in 69 hazardous-drinking OEF/OIF veterans (65% Caucasian, 91% male). Combat exposure moderated the relationship between unit cohesion and PTSD. Unit cohesion was related to lower PTSD severity only for veterans with less severe combat exposure. Higher postdeployment support was related to less severe PTSD for all veterans. Alcohol consumption results were not significant.

Publication Title

Military behavioral health

Recommended Citation

Avery, M., & McDevitt-Murphy, M. (2014). Impact of Combat and Social Support on PTSD and Alcohol Consumption in OEF/OIF Veterans. Military behavioral health, 2 (2), 217-223. https://doi.org/10.1080/21635781.2014.891433