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Trauma and Stressor Related Disorders and Disasters

Associations among indicators of social isolation and residualization-based resilience following military-related stressors in US post-9/11 veterans

(PS13-78) Associations Among Indicators of Social Isolation and Residualization-based Resilience Following Military-related Stressors in US post-9/11 Veterans

Sunday, November 17, 2024

9:00 AM – 10:00 AM EST

Location: Franklin Hall, Level 4, Marriott Downtown

Author(s)

Allison Metts, M.A.

Psychology Doctoral Intern
VA VISN 17 Center of Excellence for Research on Returning War Veterans
Austin, Texas, United States

Co-Author(s)

CM

Corina Mendoza, M.A.

Supervisory Research Health Science Specialist
VA VISN 17 Center of Excellence for Research on Returning War Veterans
Waco, Texas, United States
RP

Rahel Pearson, Ph.D.

Psychologist
VA VISN17 Center of Excellence for Research on Returning War Veterans
Waco, Texas, United States
SC

Suzannah Creech, Ph.D.

Investigator
VA VISN 17 Center of Excellence for Research on Returning War Veterans
Waco, Texas, United States

Abstract Text: Negative mental health outcomes are prevalent among veterans following military-related stressor exposure and associated with interpersonal difficulties, such as social isolation. There is limited longitudinal research on resilience following the military and how this may relate to social isolation indicators in veterans. This study examined resilience against military-related stressors, gender differences, and cross-sectional and longitudinal associations among social isolation indicators and resilience in 350 US post-9/11 veterans (M_age=46.15; 70.3% M). Using a residualization approach, resilience was approximated as low stressor reactivity (SR), calculated by regressing mental health onto military-related stressor exposure (combat, hazardous agent exposure, military sexual trauma). Linear regression analyses adjusted for demographic and baseline variables (longitudinal). Military-related stressors explained the most variance in PTSD and depression symptoms (composite; R²=13.51) and psychosocial capacity (R²=13.81). Females were significantly less resilient than males when considering symptoms (p=.013), with limited evidence found for psychosocial capacity (i.e., one’s ability to engage in daily and meaningful activities) (p=.086). Cross-sectional results were consistent for associations among symptom and functional SR indices and social isolation indicators. SR was negatively associated with friend/family contact frequency (symptom: β=-0.13, p</em>=.023; functional: β=-.14, p</em>=.007), confidant network size (symptom: β=-.30, p</em>< .001; functional: β=-.20, p</em>< .001), and post-deployment social support (symptom: β=-.35, p< .001; functional: β=-.39, p< .001). Further, SR was positively associated with difficulties with closeness (symptom: β=.41, p< .001; functional: β=.39, p< .001) and loneliness (symptom: β=.52, p< .001; functional: β=.50, p< .001). Longitudinal analyses indicated that higher symptom SR predicted higher loneliness two years later (β=.17, p=.006). Higher functional SR predicted lower friend/family contact frequency (β=-.14, p=.021) and smaller confidant network sizes (β=-.16, p=.005) two years later. Higher functional SR also predicted more difficulties with closeness two years later (β=.17, p=.005). Results demonstrate relationships among objective (e.g., network size) and subjective (i.e., perceived loneliness) indicators of social isolation and resilience against symptoms and functional outcomes cross-sectionally and longitudinally. Thus, maladaptive stressor reactivity may influence concurrent—and indicate risk for future—perceptions and experiences of social isolation. Prevention efforts during training and throughout military careers, including skills to strengthen stressor response (e.g., breathing, thought challenging), as well as interventions, including restructuring unhelpful/unbalanced thoughts post-trauma, behavioral techniques focused on adaptive coping, and skills to regulate emotional intensity may yield reduced social isolation. Additional intervention tailoring may be warranted for female veterans to reduce risk posed by stressor reactivity. Such programming may enhance veteran resilience and social connection.