The long-term effects of warfare trauma on older adult veterans' posttraumatic stress: The role of trauma reminders and meaning in life.

Abstract

This study examines the long-term effects of warfare trauma on posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms in older veterans, focusing on trauma reminders, combat exposure, and meaning in life as a potential moderating factor. The sample included 399 male veterans of the 1973 Yom Kippur War in Israel, assessed at three time points: about 6 months before the 50th anniversary of the war, providing a baseline; 2 weeks before the anniversary, capturing emotional responses related to the symbolic reminder; and 2 months following the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas War in 2023, assessing the acute impact of renewed real-time threat. The study examined how these trauma reminders were associated over time with PTSD symptoms, particularly reexperiencing, avoidance, and a sustained sense of threat. Participants were grouped as combatants and noncombatants with or without life-threatening exposure. Meaning in life was measured using an averaged score reflecting four core dimensions: values, purpose, goals, and reconciliation with the past. Results show that a real-time trauma reminder elicited stronger PTSD symptoms than symbolic reminders, particularly among veterans exposed to life-threatening conditions. Moreover, meaning in life significantly moderated PTSD symptoms, with higher meaning associated with lower levels of symptoms, especially during a real-time reminder among combatants. Findings underscore the lasting impact of combat trauma and the protective role of meaning in life amid renewed trauma reminders. The findings provide a foundation for future interventions aimed at fostering meaning as a buffer against PTSD symptoms in aging combat veterans and highlight the potential value of long-term mental health services, including meaning-centered and community-based support tailored to this population. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2026 APA, all rights reserved).