PREWAR FACTORS IN COMBAT-RELATED POSTTRAUMATIC-STRESS-DISORDER - STRUCTURAL EQUATION MODELING WITH A NATIONAL SAMPLE OF FEMALE AND MALE VIETNAM VETERANS

Structural equation modeling was used to examine relationships among p rewar factors, dimensions of war-zone stress, and current posttraumati c stress disorder (PTSD) symptomatology using data from 1,632 female a nd male participants in the National Vietnam Veterans Readjustment Stu dy. For men, previous trauma history (accidents, assaults, and natural disasters) directly predicted PTSD and also interacted with war-zone stressor level to exacerbate PTSD symptoms for high combat-exposed vet erans. Male veterans who entered the war at a younger age displayed mo re symptoms. Family instability, childhood antisocial behavior, and ag e had indirect effects on PTSD for men. For women, indirect prewar eff ects emanated from family instability. More attention should be given to critical developmental conditions, especially family instability an d earlier trauma exposure, in conceptualizing PTSD in adults.