Protective Factors and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder in Veterans With Spinal Cord Injury

Abstract

This study examined the effects of putative protective factors, including current family structure (marital status and children), level of education, and perceived social support, upon posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptomatology in veterans with spinal cord injury (SCI). Participants were 124 veterans with traumatic spinal cord injuries, recruited from SCI services at Veterans Affairs Medical Centers in the Bronx, NY, Castle Point, NY, and East Orange, NJ. We found that the most consistent predictor of PTSD symptomatology was perceived social support from friends. In both univariate and multivariate analyses, it predicted current level of PTSD symptoms. Level of education was also a significant predictor of current PTSD symptoms in multivariate analyses. In contrast to the significant findings, perceived social support from family, marital status, and having children did not significantly correlate with the PTSD variables.