The National Health and Resilience in Veterans Study: A Narrative Review and Future Directions

United States (U.S.) veterans are substantially older than their non-veteran counterparts. However, nationally representative, population-based data on the unique health needs of this population are lacking. Such data are critical to informing the design of large-scale outreach initiatives, and to ensure the effectiveness of service care delivery both within and outside of the Veterans Affairs healthcare system. The National Health and Resilience in Veterans Study (NHRVS) is a contemporary, nationally representative, prospective study of two independent cohorts (n = 3,157 and n = 1,484) of U.S. veterans, which is examining longitudinal changes, and key risk and protective factors for several health outcomes. In this narrative review, we summarize the main findings of all NHRVS studies (n = 82) published as of June 2020, and discuss the clinical implications, limitations, and future directions of this study. Review of these articles was organized into six major topic areas: post-traumatic stress disorder, suicidality, aging, resilience and post-traumatic growth, special topics relevant to veterans, and genetics and epigenetics. Collectively, results of these studies suggest that while a significant minority of veterans screen positive for mental disorders, the majority are psychologically resilient. They further suggest that prevention and treatment efforts designed to promote protective psychosocial characteristics (i.e., resilience, gratitude, purpose in life), and social connectedness (i.e., secure attachment, community integration, social engagement) help mitigate risk for mental disorders, and promote psychological resilience and post-traumatic growth in this population.

Download Full-text

Recalibration: future directions for post-traumatic growth

Digging for Victory ◽

10.4324/9780429473746-10 ◽

2018 ◽

pp. 217-248

Author(s):

Joanna Wise

Keyword(s):

Future Directions ◽

Post Traumatic Growth ◽

Post Traumatic

Download Full-text

Post–traumatic Growth as Positive Personality Change: Evidence, Controversies and Future Directions

European Journal of Personality ◽

10.1002/per.1963 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 28 (4) ◽

pp. 312-331 ◽

Cited By ~ 142

Author(s):

Eranda Jayawickreme ◽

Laura E. R. Blackie

Keyword(s):

Personality Change ◽

Future Research ◽

Methodological Issues ◽

Relevant Research ◽

Future Directions ◽

Personality Psychology ◽

Post Traumatic Growth ◽

Rigorous Research ◽

Target Article ◽

Post Traumatic

This target article focuses on the construct of post–traumatic growth—positive psychological change experienced as a result of the struggle with highly challenging life circumstances. Prominent theories of post–traumatic growth define it in terms of personality change, and as a result, this area of research should be of great interest to personality psychologists. Despite this fact, most of the research on this topic has not been sufficiently informed by relevant research in personality psychology, and much of the extant research suffers from significant methodological limitations. We review the literature on post–traumatic growth, with a particular focus on how researchers have conceptualized it and the specific methodological issues associated with these conceptualizations. We outline some ways in which personality science can both be enriched by the study of this phenomenon and inform rigorous research on post–traumatic growth and provide a series of guidelines for future research of post–traumatic growth as positive personality change. Copyright © 2014 European Association of Personality Psychology

Download Full-text

Post-traumatic growth among veterans in the USA: results from the National Health and Resilience in Veterans Study

Psychological Medicine ◽

10.1017/s0033291714001202 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 45 (1) ◽

pp. 165-179 ◽

Cited By ~ 87

Author(s):

J. Tsai ◽

R. El-Gabalawy ◽

W. H. Sledge ◽

S. M. Southwick ◽

R. H. Pietrzak

Keyword(s):

Posttraumatic Growth ◽

National Health ◽

Functional Significance ◽

Short Form ◽

Multivariable Analysis ◽

Intrinsic Religiosity ◽

Military Health ◽

Post Traumatic Growth ◽

Post Traumatic ◽

Us Veterans

BackgroundThere is increasing recognition that, in addition to negative psychological consequences of trauma such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), some individuals may develop post-traumatic growth (PTG) following such experiences. To date, however, data regarding the prevalence, correlates and functional significance of PTG in population-based samples are lacking.MethodData were analysed from the National Health and Resilience in Veterans Study, a contemporary, nationally representative survey of 3157 US veterans. Veterans completed a survey containing measures of sociodemographic, military, health and psychosocial characteristics, and the Posttraumatic Growth Inventory-Short Form.ResultsWe found that 50.1% of all veterans and 72.0% of veterans who screened positive for PTSD reported at least ‘moderate’ PTG in relation to their worst traumatic event. An inverted U-shaped relationship was found to best explain the relationship between PTSD symptoms and PTG. Among veterans with PTSD, those with PTSD reported better mental functioning and general health than those without PTG. Experiencing a life-threatening illness or injury and re-experiencing symptoms were most strongly associated with PTG. In multivariable analysis, greater social connectedness, intrinsic religiosity and purpose in life were independently associated with greater PTG.ConclusionsPTG is prevalent among US veterans, particularly among those who screen positive for PTSD. These results suggest that there may be a ‘positive legacy’ of trauma that has functional significance for veterans. They further suggest that interventions geared toward helping trauma-exposed US veterans process their re-experiencing symptoms, and to develop greater social connections, sense of purpose and intrinsic religiosity may help promote PTG in this population.

Download Full-text