Brief Report

Posttraumatic stress disorder, guilt, depression, and meaning in life among military veterans

  1. Gina P. Owens1,*,
  2. Michael F. Steger2,
  3. Allison A. Whitesell3,
  4. Catherine J. Herrera3

Article first published online: 18 NOV 2009

DOI: 10.1002/jts.20460

Issue

Journal of Traumatic Stress

Journal of Traumatic Stress

Special Issue: Special Section: Innovations in Trauma Research Methods, 2008

Volume 22, Issue 6, pages 654–657, December 2009

Additional Information

How to Cite

Owens, G. P., Steger, M. F., Whitesell, A. A. and Herrera, C. J. (2009), Posttraumatic stress disorder, guilt, depression, and meaning in life among military veterans. Journal of Traumatic Stress, 22: 654–657. doi: 10.1002/jts.20460

Author Information

  1. 1

    Department of Psychology, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN

  2. 2

    Department of Psychology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO

  3. 3

    Department of Psychology, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN

*Department of Psychology, University of Tennessee, 1404 Circle Dr., Knoxville, TN 37996-0900

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 21 DEC 2009
  2. Article first published online: 18 NOV 2009

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Abstract

Veterans of various service eras (N = 174) completed an Internet survey about combat exposure, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms, depression, guilt, and meaning in life. Results of a hierarchical regression indicated that younger age; higher levels of combat exposure, depression, and guilt; and lower meaning in life predicted greater PTSD severity. The interaction between meaning in life and depression also was significant, with a stronger inverse relation between meaning and PTSD at lower levels of depression. Meaning in life may be an important treatment concern for veterans with PTSD symptoms, particularly at higher levels of functioning.

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