<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">

<p>This study investigated the relationship between traumatic experiences during peacekeeping operations in Lebanon (UNIFIL) between 1978 – 1998 and post traumatic growth (PTG), recalled and measured 17-38 years after, in a sample of 11 633 Norwegian military. Specifically, the study investigated how victim traumas (lethal danger) and moral traumas (moral failure) related to PTG, measured by the Posttraumatic Growth Inventory (<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="j_jms-2023-0003_ref_009">Cann et al., 2010</xref>). Emotional distress experienced during the traumas served as a potential mediator of this relationship, and leadership by closest superior a potential moderator of the mediation. The results showed a significant positive relationship between number of victim traumas and PTG, while number of moral traumas did not contribute to explain variance above this effect. The trauma - PTG relationship was partially mediated by emotional distress, but authentic- and laissez faire leadership did not moderate this mediation. In sum, the veterans with most traumatic experiences, as recalled 17-38 years later, had higher PTG, and emotional distress related to trauma mediated this growth. The findings indicate that traumatic experiences may represent a resource for growth and subsequent hope for recovery. Given the retrospective study-design which might have hindered accurate measurement of PTG, advice on future research approaches is included.</p>
</abstract>

This study investigated the relationship between traumatic experiences during peacekeeping operations in Lebanon (UNIFIL) between 1978 – 1998 and post traumatic growth (PTG), recalled and measured 17-38 years after, in a sample of 11 633 Norwegian military. Specifically, the study investigated how victim traumas (lethal danger) and moral traumas (moral failure) related to PTG, measured by the Posttraumatic Growth Inventory (Cann et al., 2010). Emotional distress experienced during the traumas served as a potential mediator of this relationship, and leadership by closest superior a potential moderator of the mediation. The results showed a significant positive relationship between number of victim traumas and PTG, while number of moral traumas did not contribute to explain variance above this effect. The trauma - PTG relationship was partially mediated by emotional distress, but authentic- and laissez faire leadership did not moderate this mediation. In sum, the veterans with most traumatic experiences, as recalled 17-38 years later, had higher PTG, and emotional distress related to trauma mediated this growth. The findings indicate that traumatic experiences may represent a resource for growth and subsequent hope for recovery. Given the retrospective study-design which might have hindered accurate measurement of PTG, advice on future research approaches is included.

Long-term post traumatic growth after moral- and victim-traumas among Norwegian UN military peacekeepers: the impact of emotional distress and leadership

Journal of Military Studies

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

This study investigated the relationship between traumatic experiences during peacekeeping operations in Lebanon (UNIFIL) between 1978 – 1998 and post...

				Correlations
	Mean	SD	Possible range	1	2	3	4	5
1. Post-traumatic growth	2.64	0.73	1 - 5	–
2. Moral trauma	4.56	1.05	2 - 12	.01	–
3. Victim trauma	5.50	1.59	2 - 12	.10	.24	–
4. Number of contingents	1.83	1.12	–	.05	.04	.15	–
5. Years since first contingent	28	5.71	–	.01	.05	−.19	.21	–

Victim trauma	n	%
I came under fire with handguns, artillery missiles or other weapons	4738	83.7
I experienced being surrounded/ambushed	1110	19.7
I experienced a situation/a moment where I thought I was going to die	2520	44.6
Moral trauma
Were you involved in things that were morally questionable	1430	73.4
Did you fail to do things that you now see that you should have done	938	48
Did you take a life while serving in UNIFIL	152	7.9

Long-term post traumatic growth after moral- and victim-traumas among Norwegian UN military peacekeepers: the impact of emotional distress and leadership

Article Category: Original Study

Published Online: Mar 11, 2024

Page range: 40 - 50

Received: Aug 15, 2022

Accepted: Sep 07, 2023

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/jms-2023-0003

Keywords
post traumatic growth, military UN peacekeepers, authentic leadership, laissez faire leadership, emotional distress, trauma

© 2023 Olav Kjellevold Olsen et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Fig. 1:

Fig. 2:

Descriptive based on the sample from regression analyses (n = 1458)

Proportions experiencing each trauma

Long-term post traumatic growth after moral- and victim-traumas among Norwegian UN military peacekeepers: the impact of emotional distress and leadership

Article Category: Original Study

Published Online: Mar 11, 2024

Page range: 40 - 50

Received: Aug 15, 2022

Accepted: Sep 07, 2023

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/jms-2023-0003

Keywordspost traumatic growth, military UN peacekeepers, authentic leadership, laissez faire leadership, emotional distress, trauma

© 2023 Olav Kjellevold Olsen et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Fig. 1:

Fig. 2:

Descriptive based on the sample from regression analyses (n = 1458)

Proportions experiencing each trauma

Keywords
post traumatic growth, military UN peacekeepers, authentic leadership, laissez faire leadership, emotional distress, trauma