Comparing the Post-Traumatic Growth and Coping with Stress in Chemical and Non-Chemical Veterans in the City of Sardasht, Iran

Document Type : Original Research

Authors

Assistant Professor, Department of Psychology, Islamic Azad University, Urmia Branch, Urmia, Iran

Abstract

Background and Aim: War as a stress factor has economic, social, cultural and psychological consequences that have a significant impact on the relations of community members over the generations. The aim of this study was to compare the post-traumatic growth and coping with stress in chemical and non-chemical veterans in the city of Sardasht, Iran.
Methods: This was a causal-comparative research. A sample of 100 veterans (50 chemical and 50 non-chemical veterans) were selected by convenience sampling method in the city of Sardasht, Iran. Post-traumatic Growth was assayed by Post-traumatic Growth inventory, and coping with stress was assayed by Endler & Parker coping scale of stressful situations.
Results: Analysis of data by using multivariate analysis of variance and an independent t-test at a significant level of 0.05 showed that there was a significant difference between chemical and non-chemical veterans with post-traumatic growth with regard to problem-focused and emotion-focused coping styles.
Conclusion: According to the findings, it seems that mental health in veterans exposed to chemical agents have been affected by long-term harmful effects.

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