SOCIAL SUPPORT AND PSYCHOPATHOLOGY IN THE WAR ZONE

Unit cohesion and homecoming support are examined for their protective effects on the development of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) an d other psychopathology. Data on 1198 male theater veterans were taken from the National Vietnam Veterans Readjustment Study. Unit cohesion had no significant relationship, as a direct effect, to either PTSD or other psychopathology. Ln a pattern that was Opposite to predictions from the buffering hypothesis of support, however, a high level of uni t cohesion in combination with high war zone stress was associated wit h the highest levels of PTSD and psychopathology. This is consistent w ith Israeli experiences, suggesting that unit cohesion may have detrim ental long-term effects on psychological well-being. In contrast, home coming support was related negatively as a direct effect to both PTSD and other psychopathology. In addition, interaction results, consisten t with the buffering hypothesis, suggest that the protective effects o f homecoming support are magnified for veterans with high compared wit h low levels of exposure.