TAU Trends in Research |
Active military combat is a known pathogenic stressor. While most soldiers cope normatively, others succumb to the onslaught of threatening stimuli and exhibit immediate psychological impairment, such as battle shock or combat stress reactions (CSR), that can involve a wide range of psychological manifestations and can endanger both the soldier and his companions. At the other extreme are soldiers whose exceptional wartime performance qualifies them as war heroes. While CSR casualties have attracted considerable professional attention, the implication of the hero's readiness to face danger, take risks and, if need be, sacrifice his life has been little studied. There are also virtually no studies on the long-term psychological adjustment of decorated wartime heroes.
The literature is divided regarding the contribution of personal characteristics to the success of immediate coping and the long-term adjustment to war-induced stress. Some authors claim that the role of the pre-war personality is limited, while others suggest that a history of emotional difficulties, a high level of neuroticism or a low sense of self-efficacy are risk factors for vulnerability to CSR. None of these studies has simultaneously examined CSR casualties and decorated war heroes to better illuminate the whole spectrum of immediate and long-term adjustment to war stress.
Dr. Yuval Neria and his colleagues at the TAU School of Social Work have carried out the first major study in this area. They have examined the role of several personality characteristics among them sensation seeking, attachment style, and self-efficacy in both wartime performance and long-term adjustment of Israeli veterans of the Yom Kippur War (1973). They found that, examining soldiers almost two decades after their exposures to traumatic battle stress, personality factors did indeed play a significant role in both previous war performance and subsequent long-term adjustment. Decorated war veterans were higher sensation seekers, more secure in their relationships with others, and possessed a higher sense of self-efficacy than CSR casualties. In addition, they suffered from lower levels of war-related post-traumatic symptoms and benefited from better general mental health than CSR casualties.
The study has significant theoretical implications, and should also help develop better therapeutic approaches to better address the prevention of post-traumatic reactions and treatment of CSR-related psychological problems.
Yuval Neria, Ph.D.
Bob Shapell School of Social Work
Tel Aviv University
Ramat Aviv, Tel Aviv 69978
ISRAEL
| Tel: | 972-3-640-9256 |
| Fax: | 972-3-640-9182 |
| E-Mail: | neria@post.tau.ac.il |
Last modified: June 27, 1999