Post-Deployment Difficulties and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Symptoms among Married Ghanaian Army Personnel. The Moderating Role of Post-Deployment Social Support
Date
2022
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Military Behavioral Health
Abstract
Transiting from deployment to living at home can have a profound influence on the
psychological health of soldiers with regard to the occurrence of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder
(PTSD). However, the level of social support received from family and friends upon returning
can help moderate the strength of this relationship. Little is known about these concepts
within the Ghanaian context; therefore, the present study assessed the relationship between
post-deployment difficulties and the occurrence of PTSD symptoms among married Ghanaian
army soldiers at home, as well as the moderating role of social support. 92 army personnel
in the Ghana Armed Forces were purposefully sampled to participate in the study. A
quantitative research design was employed and survey questionnaires were used to collect
data. primary analysis of data was done using hierarchical multiple regression. Findings from
the study indicate that military post-deployment difficulties in Ghana have a positive
correlation with personnel’s PTSD symptoms. In addition, social support received from family
and friends, upon returning from deployment, did not moderate the relationship between
post-deployment difficulties and military personnel’s experience of PTSD symptoms. The
need to adopt and/or develop transition programs in Ghana should be considered in
managing their experience of PTSD symptoms during post-deployment
Description
Research Article
Keywords
Post-deployment difficulties, social support, military deployment