Sex Differences in Coping Strategies in Military Survival School
Abstract
A wealth of research has examined psychological responses to trauma among male service members, but few studies have examined sex differences in response to trauma, such as coping strategies. This study assessed coping strategies used by service members completing an intensely stressful mock-captivity exercise, compared strategies by sex, and assessed the relationship between coping and posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSS). Two hundred service members (78% male) completed self-report surveys before and after mock captivity. Surveys assessed demographics, service characteristics, PTSS, and coping strategies used during mock captivity. Participants used seven coping strategies: denial, self-blame, religion, self-distraction, behavioral disengagement, positive reframing, and planning. Women used denial (p less than or equal to .01), self-blame (p less than or equal to .05), and positive reinterpretation (p less than or equal to .05) strategies more frequently than men, and they had higher PTSS levels following the exercise. Structural equation modeling showed that the relationship between sex and PTSS was fully mediated by coping strategies. The results of this study suggest that higher levels of PTSS among females may be mitigated by reducing their use of coping strategies associated with poorer psychological outcomes.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jan 01, 2015
- Accession Number
- ADA619361
Entities
People
- Cynthia J Thomsen
- Emily A Schmied
- Erica Harris
- Genieleah A. Padilla
- Marcus K. Taylor
- Melissa D. Lauby
Organizations
- Naval Health Research Center