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Self-Compassion as a prospective predictor of PTSD symptom severity among trauma-exposed U.S. Iraq and Afghanistan war veterans.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Hiraoka, R; Meyer, EC; Kimbrel, NA; DeBeer, BB; Gulliver, SB; Morissette, SB
Published in: J Trauma Stress
April 2015

U.S. combat veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars have elevated rates of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) compared to the general population. Self-compassion, characterized by self-kindness, a sense of common humanity when faced with suffering, and mindful awareness of suffering, is a potentially modifiable factor implicated in the development and maintenance of PTSD. We examined the concurrent and prospective relationship between self-compassion and PTSD symptom severity after accounting for level of combat exposure and baseline PTSD severity in 115 Iraq and Afghanistan war veterans exposed to 1 or more traumatic events during deployment. PTSD symptoms were assessed using the Clinician Administered PTSD Scale for DSM-IV (CAPS-IV) at baseline and 12 months (n =101). Self-compassion and combat exposure were assessed at baseline via self-report. Self-compassion was associated with baseline PTSD symptoms after accounting for combat exposure (β = -.59; p < .001; ΔR(2) = .34; f(2) = .67; large effect) and predicted 12-month PTSD symptom severity after accounting for combat exposure and baseline PTSD severity (β = -.24; p = .008; ΔR(2) = .03; f(2) = .08; small effect). Findings suggest that interventions that increase self-compassion may be beneficial for treating chronic PTSD symptoms among some Iraq and Afghanistan war veterans.

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Published In

J Trauma Stress

DOI

EISSN

1573-6598

Publication Date

April 2015

Volume

28

Issue

2

Start / End Page

127 / 133

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Warfare
  • Veterans
  • United States
  • Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic
  • Severity of Illness Index
  • Self Report
  • Self Psychology
  • Psychiatry
  • Psychiatric Status Rating Scales
  • Middle Aged
 

Citation

APA
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ICMJE
MLA
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Hiraoka, R., Meyer, E. C., Kimbrel, N. A., DeBeer, B. B., Gulliver, S. B., & Morissette, S. B. (2015). Self-Compassion as a prospective predictor of PTSD symptom severity among trauma-exposed U.S. Iraq and Afghanistan war veterans. J Trauma Stress, 28(2), 127–133. https://doi.org/10.1002/jts.21995
Hiraoka, Regina, Eric C. Meyer, Nathan A. Kimbrel, Bryann B. DeBeer, Suzy Bird Gulliver, and Sandra B. Morissette. “Self-Compassion as a prospective predictor of PTSD symptom severity among trauma-exposed U.S. Iraq and Afghanistan war veterans.J Trauma Stress 28, no. 2 (April 2015): 127–33. https://doi.org/10.1002/jts.21995.
Hiraoka R, Meyer EC, Kimbrel NA, DeBeer BB, Gulliver SB, Morissette SB. Self-Compassion as a prospective predictor of PTSD symptom severity among trauma-exposed U.S. Iraq and Afghanistan war veterans. J Trauma Stress. 2015 Apr;28(2):127–33.
Hiraoka, Regina, et al. “Self-Compassion as a prospective predictor of PTSD symptom severity among trauma-exposed U.S. Iraq and Afghanistan war veterans.J Trauma Stress, vol. 28, no. 2, Apr. 2015, pp. 127–33. Pubmed, doi:10.1002/jts.21995.
Hiraoka R, Meyer EC, Kimbrel NA, DeBeer BB, Gulliver SB, Morissette SB. Self-Compassion as a prospective predictor of PTSD symptom severity among trauma-exposed U.S. Iraq and Afghanistan war veterans. J Trauma Stress. 2015 Apr;28(2):127–133.
Journal cover image

Published In

J Trauma Stress

DOI

EISSN

1573-6598

Publication Date

April 2015

Volume

28

Issue

2

Start / End Page

127 / 133

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Warfare
  • Veterans
  • United States
  • Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic
  • Severity of Illness Index
  • Self Report
  • Self Psychology
  • Psychiatry
  • Psychiatric Status Rating Scales
  • Middle Aged