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Personality traits and combat exposure as predictors of psychopathology over time

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  08 September 2015

E. Koffel ,
M. D. Kramer ,
P. A. Arbisi ,
C. R. Erbes ,
M. Kaler  and
M. A. Polusny
E. Koffel
Affiliation:
Center for Chronic Disease Outcomes Research, Minneapolis, MN, USA Minneapolis VA Healthcare System, Minneapolis, MN, USA Department of Psychiatry, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
M. D. Kramer
Affiliation:
Minneapolis VA Healthcare System, Minneapolis, MN, USA Department of Psychiatry, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
P. A. Arbisi
Affiliation:
Minneapolis VA Healthcare System, Minneapolis, MN, USA Department of Psychiatry, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA Department of Psychology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
C. R. Erbes
Affiliation:
Center for Chronic Disease Outcomes Research, Minneapolis, MN, USA Minneapolis VA Healthcare System, Minneapolis, MN, USA Department of Psychiatry, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
M. Kaler
Affiliation:
Minneapolis VA Healthcare System, Minneapolis, MN, USA
M. A. Polusny*
Affiliation:
Center for Chronic Disease Outcomes Research, Minneapolis, MN, USA Minneapolis VA Healthcare System, Minneapolis, MN, USA Department of Psychiatry, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
*
* Address for correspondence: Dr M. A. Polusny, Minneapolis Veterans Affairs Medical Center, (B68-2), Minneapolis, MN 55417, USA. (Email: Melissa.polusny@va.gov)
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Abstract

Background.

Research suggests that personality traits have both direct and indirect effects on the development of psychological symptoms, with indirect effects mediated by stressful or traumatic events. This study models the direct influence of personality traits on residualized changes in internalizing and externalizing symptoms following a stressful and potentially traumatic deployment, as well as the indirect influence of personality on symptom levels mediated by combat exposure.

Method.

We utilized structural equation modeling with a longitudinal prospective study of 522 US National Guard soldiers deployed to Iraq. Analyses were based on self-report measures of personality, combat exposure, and internalizing and externalizing symptoms.

Results.

Both pre-deployment Disconstraint and externalizing symptoms predicted combat exposure, which in turn predicted internalizing and externalizing symptoms. There was a significant indirect effect for pre-deployment externalizing symptoms on post-deployment externalizing via combat exposure (p < 0.01). Negative Emotionality and pre-deployment internalizing symptoms directly predicted post-deployment internalizing symptoms, but both were unrelated to combat exposure. No direct effects of personality on residualized changes in externalizing symptoms were found.

Conclusions.

Baseline symptom dimensions had significant direct and indirect effects on post-deployment symptoms. Controlling for both pre-exposure personality and symptoms, combat experiences remained positively related to both internalizing and externalizing symptoms. Implications for diagnostic classification are discussed.

Keywords

Externalizing disordersinternalizing disorderspersonalitypersonality traits and combat exposure as predictors of psychopathology over timetrauma
Type
Original Articles
Information
Psychological Medicine , Volume 46 , Issue 1 , January 2016 , pp. 209 - 220
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2015 

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