Associations among meaning in life, coping, and distress in trauma-exposed U.S. military Veterans

Abstract: Experiencing meaning in life may be particularly relevant following traumatic experiences as individuals who report meaning post trauma report less psychological distress. Engaging in avoidant coping, however, may be a sign of underlying psychological distress in the aftermath of traumatic experiences. We sought to examine associations among meaning in life, avoidant coping, and psychological distress in a sample of trauma-exposed veterans. Secondary cross-sectional analyses were conducted on data from veterans exposed to a traumatic event(s) who experienced clinically meaningful guilt (N = 145). Questionnaires on meaning in life, avoidant coping, and psychological distress were administered, and structural equation modeling was used to test direct effects. Path analysis revealed that greater meaning was associated with lower depression, anxiety, and posttraumatic stress symptomatology, while higher avoidant coping was associated with greater depression, anxiety, posttraumatic stress, and somatization symptomatology. Participants who report more meaning in life and report lower avoidant coping post trauma may experience less psychological distress. If replicated longitudinally, results could suggest cultivating meaning in life and reducing avoidant coping may decrease psychological distress.

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