Posttraumatic growth among Israeli female combat veterans: The mediating roles of posttraumatic stress symptoms and self‐efficacy

Abstract

Posttraumatic growth (PTG) is a possible common reaction to exposure to potentially traumatic events (PTEs) during military service. However, knowledge about correlates of PTG among female combat veterans is sparse. This study examines associations between combat exposure, posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSS), general self‐efficacy (GSE), and PTG among Israeli female veterans. This is a cross‐sectional studyA volunteer sample of female Israeli combat veterans (n = 616) and non‐combat veterans (n = 484) responded to self‐report questionnaires. Combat veterans reported higher levels of combat exposure, PTSS, GSE, and PTG, as compared to non‐combat veterans. Among combat veterans, combat exposure and GSE were associated with greater PTG. Importantly, PTSS and GSE mediated the link between combat exposure and PTG. The study's findings are among the first to report about possible psychological growth outcomes among Israeli combat veterans. Clinicians treating female veterans coping with combat trauma should be aware of the heterogeneity of reactions to military service challenges and the importance of enhancing veterans' GSE to facilitate PTG.