Delayed-onset PTSD following combat: the role of social resources

Abstract

Objective: Research was conducted examining how death anxiety influenced PTSD and mental health among people who have experienced a life-threatening event. The intent was to consider the role of death anxiety on well-being and consider self-efficacy as a resilience factor. Design and methods: This study was conducted using undergraduate university students in Lithuania. In this study, participants (N = 109) completed self-report questionnaires that gathered information on demographics, death anxiety, self-efficacy, trauma and well-being. Results: Self-efficacy was found to be significantly related to death anxiety and psychiatric co-morbidity, but not PTSD. In this study self-efficacy did not act as a mediating factor and was independently related to death anxiety and psychiatric co-morbidity. Results were discussed in light of literature regarding death anxiety. Conclusion: It seems that self-efficacy is related to death anxiety and wellbeing; however it interacts with these processes independently. More research is needed to understand coping mechanisms that help develop resilience against the effects of death anxiety and minimize its negative impact on mental health.