Health and Wellbeing Study of Serving and ex-Serving UK Armed Forces Personnel: Phase 4
Abstract: The study has been running since 2003 with the aim of investigating the impact of deployment to Iraq (Operation TELIC) and Afghanistan (Operation HERRICK) on the health and wellbeing of serving and ex-serving personnel.
Data have been collected over three previous phases - Phase 1 (2004/06), Phase 2 (2007/09), and Phase 3 (2014/16), with the most recent phase taking place over 2022/23. In addition to examining key mental health outcomes such as CMD, probable PTSD and alcohol misuse, this phase also collected new data on additional topics relevant to UK serving and ex-serving personnel including complex PTSD (C-PTSD), loneliness and caring responsibilities.
For Phase 4 (2022/23), we followed up participants who took part in the previous phase in 2014/16. 4104 participants completed the survey. 69% of the sample had deployed to Iraq and/or Afghanistan and 72% had left service.
Abstract: Objective: The present study is a retrospective quasi-experimental study to evaluate the effectiveness of the Warrior PATHH (WP) program at improving posttraumatic growth (PTG) outcomes and reducing PTSD symptoms compared to a waitlist control among a sample of Veterans. Method: Participants (n = 164) were U.S. military Veterans with a history of trauma. Participants were either undergoing the Warrior PATHH program or a waitlist. Primary outcome measures were administered at baseline and at 90-day follow-up and consisted of the Posttraumatic Growth Inventory – Expanded (PTGI-X) and the Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5). Secondary outcome measures assessed psychosocial functioning and included measures of depression and anxiety symptoms, sleep, wellbeing, and social support. Results: Significant differences were observed between groups on the PTGI-X (F(1, 205) = 23.667, p < .001, partial η2 = 0.103), and the PCL-5 (F(1, 205) = 262.460, p < .001, partial η2 = 0.561) with the WP group showing significant positive psychological change following a traumatic event as measured by the PTGI-X and decreased PTSD symptoms as measured by the PCL-5 compared to those in the waitlist condition. Those in the treatment arm also demonstrated gains to psychosocial functioning. Conclusions: Consistent with previous research, participants in the Warrior PATHH program exhibited significant increases in PTG outcomes, decreased PTSD symptoms, and broad improvements to psychosocial functioning. These findings suggest it is an effective training program to foster PTG outcomes among Veterans. This study is unique as it is the first to compare the effects of WP programming with a sample of waitlisted Veterans.