Abstract
The purpose of this dissertation was to determine the predictors of self-perceived posttraumatic growth among combat veterans. The sample (N = 283) included a combined sample of combat veterans solicited through multiple community Veteran Service Organizations and student combat veterans solicited through a campus-wide university email listserv. Participants completed a web-based survey that included a demographic questionnaire, questions regarding military and combat experience, and items related to personal system variables, environmental system variables, and coping style. Multiple regression analyses were conducted to determine the predictive capability of the presence and severity of PTSD symptoms, self-perceived family, significant other, and peer support, self-perceived postdeployment support, on five domains of self-perceived posttraumatic growth (Posttraumatic Growth Inventory; Tedeschi & Calhoun, 1996). Five statistically significant models emerged from the quantitative data with adjusted R2 values ranging from .32 to .57. Significant other and peer social support made significant contributions to four models, adaptive coping responses made significant contributions to five models, and denial coping and PTSD symptoms each significantly contributed to one model. Study findings support the hypotheses regarding the expected predictive qualities of social support and adaptive coping responses on combat veteran's self-perceived posttraumatic growth and have important clinical implications. Opportunities for increased posttraumatic growth among combat veterans may serve to enrich providers understanding of a largely pathogenic view of trauma sequalae.