Factors Associated With Antisocial Behavior in Combat Veterans

Abstract

The objective of this study was to identify factors associated with antisocial behavior in 1,543 Marines who deployed to combat zones in support of conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan during 2002-2007. Five factors were associated with antisocial behavior in multivariate analyses: posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms, deployment-related stressors, combat exposure, younger age, and being divorced. PTSD symptoms had a stronger association with antisocial behavior than any other variable. A unique and important finding of this study was the association between deployment-related stressors and a higher incidence of antisocial behavior. Because deployment-related stressors are potentially modifiable, the military may be able to address them in concrete ways, such as by shortening deployments, and improving communication with home.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Mar 23, 2009
Accession Number
ADA573599

Entities

People

  • Cedric F. Garland
  • Gerald E. Larson
  • Robyn M. Highfill-McRoy
  • Stephanie Booth-Kewley
  • Thomas A. Gaskin

Organizations

  • Naval Health Research Center

Tags

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Afghanistan
  • Anxiety Disorders
  • Brain Injuries
  • Data Science
  • Department Of Defense
  • Deployment
  • Diseases And Disorders
  • Information Science
  • Medical Personnel
  • Mental Disorders
  • Mental Health
  • Military Personnel
  • Multivariate Analysis
  • Psychiatry
  • Statistical Analysis
  • Surveys
  • Traumatic Stress Disorder

Fields of Study

  • Psychology

Readers

  • Mental Health of Military Veterans with Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD): Risk Factors, Prevalence, Symptoms, and Treatment.
  • Psychological Intervention/Treatment for Stress, Anxiety, PTSD, and Related Emotional and Cognitive Health Symptoms.