A Cross-Lagged Panel Approach to Understanding Social Support and Chronic Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Symptoms in Veterans: Assessment Modality Matters

Behavior Therapy
Matthew J WoodwardJ Gayle Beck

Abstract

Although there is a strong and consistent association between social support and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), the directionality of this association has been debated, with some research indicating that social support protects against PTSD symptoms, whereas other research suggests that PTSD symptoms erode social support. The majority of studies in the literature have been cross-sectional, rendering directionality impossible to determine. Cross-lagged panel models overcome many previous limitations; however, findings from the few studies employing these designs have been mixed, possibly due to methodological differences including self-report versus clinician-administered assessment. The current study used a cross-lagged panel structural equation model to explore the relationship between social support and chronic PTSD symptoms over a 1-year period in a sample of 264 Iraq and Afghanistan veterans assessed several years after trauma exposure. Approximately a third of the sample met criteria for PTSD at the baseline assessment, with veterans' trauma occurring an average of 6 years prior to baseline. Two separate models were run, with one using PTSD symptoms assessed via self-report and the other using clinician-assessed PTS...Continue Reading

References

Mar 1, 1990·Psychological Bulletin·P M Bentler
Jan 1, 1988·Social Science & Medicine·R H MoosA G Billings
Jun 1, 1986·The Gerontologist·S H ZaritJ M Zarit
Dec 1, 1995·Archives of General Psychiatry·R C KesslerC B Nelson
Mar 1, 1993·Journal of Personality and Social Psychology·K Kaniasty, F H Norris
Aug 1, 1996·Behaviour Research and Therapy·E B BlanchardC A Forneris
Aug 31, 2000·American Journal of Community Psychology·K Kaniasty, F H Norris
Jun 5, 2001·Depression and Anxiety·F W WeathersJ R Davidson
Jan 31, 2003·Psychological Bulletin·Emily J OzerDaniel S Weiss
Jul 2, 2004·The New England Journal of Medicine·Charles W HogeRobert L Koffman
Jun 27, 2006·Administration and Policy in Mental Health·Karen M ClementsSharon-Lise T Normand
Jun 19, 2008·Psychological Assessment·Candice M MonsonJeremiah A Schumm
Feb 26, 2011·Journal of Traumatic Stress·Candice M MonsonAlexandra Macdonald
Aug 5, 2015·JAMA : the Journal of the American Medical Association·Maria M SteenkampCharles R Marmar
Apr 15, 2016·Journal of Traumatic Stress·Sandra L ShallcrossChristopher R Erbes

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Related Concepts

Related Feeds

Anxiety Disorders

Discover the latest research on anxiety disorders including agoraphobia, panic disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and post-traumatic stress disorder here.