Investigating the roles of self-compassion and trauma types on post-trauma outcomes among Veterans

Abstract:Military service carries a high risk of trauma exposure, contributing to significant psychological distress, including posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSS). Identifying protective factors that mitigate distress and promote resilience is crucial for supporting Veterans’ well-being. This study examined the relationships between self-compassion, trauma type, and post-trauma outcomes—specifically, PTSS and posttraumatic growth (PTG). It was hypothesized that higher self-compassion would predict lower PTSS and higher PTG and that trauma type would impact these relationships. A total of 155 Veterans participated in the survey; however, due to incomplete responses, only 116 surveys were included in the final analysis. The measures used were the Life Events Checklist (LEC-5), PTSD Checklist for the DSM-5 (PCL-5), Posttraumatic Growth Inventory (PTGI), and the Self-Compassion Scale Short Form (SCS-SF). Exploratory correlation analyses indicated that greater self-compassion was significantly associated with lower PTSS and higher PTG ( p < .05). Trauma type was not significantly associated with PTG but was linked to PTSS, with non-interpersonal trauma being associated with higher PTSS ( p < .05). Regression analyses revealed that self-compassion accounted for 20% of the unique variability in PTSS and 20% in PTG, while trauma type predicted 3% of the variability in PTSS but was not a significant predictor of PTG. The findings provided strong support for the hypothesis that self-compassion predicts both PTSS and PTG, whereas trauma type showed a weak association with PTSS and minimal influence on PTG. Contrary to expectations, non-interpersonal trauma was linked to higher PTSS compared to interpersonal trauma. These results highlight self-compassion as a key protective factor in post-trauma adaptation, suggesting its potential role in interventions aimed at enhancing resilience in Veterans. Future research should explore the mechanisms underlying these relationships and evaluate the efficacy of self-compassion-based interventions in military populations.

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