The influence of mindfulness, self-compassion, psychological flexibility, and posttraumatic stress disorder on disability and quality of life over time in war veterans.
OBJECTIVES: Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) strongly predicts greater disability and lower quality of life (QOL). Mindfulness-based and other third-wave behavior therapy interventions improve well-being by enhancing mindfulness, self-compassion, and psychological flexibility. We hypothesized that these mechanisms of therapeutic change would comprise a single latent factor that would predict disability and QOL after accounting for PTSD symptom severity. METHOD: Iraq and Afghanistan war veterans (N = 117) completed a study of predictors of successful reintegration. Principal axis factor analysis tested whether mindfulness, self-compassion, and psychological flexibility comprised a single latent factor. Hierarchical regression tested whether this factor predicted disability and QOL 1 year later. RESULTS: Mindfulness, self-compassion, and psychological flexibility comprised a single factor that predicted disability and QOL after accounting for PTSD symptom severity. PTSD symptoms remained a significant predictor of disability but not QOL. CONCLUSIONS: Targeting these mechanisms may help veterans achieve functional recovery, even in the presence of PTSD symptoms.
Duke Scholars
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- Veterans
- Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic
- Quality of Life
- Mindfulness
- Middle Aged
- Male
- Iraq War, 2003-2011
- Humans
- Female
- Empathy
Citation
Published In
DOI
EISSN
Publication Date
Volume
Issue
Start / End Page
Location
Related Subject Headings
- Veterans
- Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic
- Quality of Life
- Mindfulness
- Middle Aged
- Male
- Iraq War, 2003-2011
- Humans
- Female
- Empathy