TY - JOUR
T1 - The Mediating Role of Meaning in Life in the Effects of Calling on Posttraumatic Stress Symptoms and Growth
T2 - A Longitudinal Study of Navy Soldiers Deployed to the Gulf of Aden
AU - Seol, Jeong Hoon
AU - Park, Yonguk
AU - Choi, Jinsoo
AU - Sohn, Young Woo
N1 - Funding Information:
This work was supported by the Yonsei University Research Grant of 2020.
Publisher Copyright:
© Copyright © 2021 Seol, Park, Choi and Sohn.
PY - 2021/1/26
Y1 - 2021/1/26
N2 - This study examined the mediating role of meaning in life in the effect of calling on posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and posttraumatic growth (PTG) among navy soldiers of the Republic of Korea deployed to the Gulf of Aden, Somalia. Participants responded to the questionnaire survey three times (pre-deployment, deployment, and post-deployment) at 4-month intervals. From the first, second, and third surveys, data were collected for 223, 195, and 103 respondents, respectively. Results showed that calling had a negative effect on PTSD, fully mediated by meaning in life, whereas calling had a positive effect on PTG, partially mediated by meaning in life. Our findings suggest that calling acts as a positive psychological resource for maintaining the meaning in life throughout stressful events experienced during deployment, thereby reducing posttraumatic stress symptoms and promoting post-deployment psychological growth. Finally, theoretical and practical implications and the need for follow-up studies are discussed.
AB - This study examined the mediating role of meaning in life in the effect of calling on posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and posttraumatic growth (PTG) among navy soldiers of the Republic of Korea deployed to the Gulf of Aden, Somalia. Participants responded to the questionnaire survey three times (pre-deployment, deployment, and post-deployment) at 4-month intervals. From the first, second, and third surveys, data were collected for 223, 195, and 103 respondents, respectively. Results showed that calling had a negative effect on PTSD, fully mediated by meaning in life, whereas calling had a positive effect on PTG, partially mediated by meaning in life. Our findings suggest that calling acts as a positive psychological resource for maintaining the meaning in life throughout stressful events experienced during deployment, thereby reducing posttraumatic stress symptoms and promoting post-deployment psychological growth. Finally, theoretical and practical implications and the need for follow-up studies are discussed.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85100755837&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85100755837&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.3389/fpsyg.2020.599109
DO - 10.3389/fpsyg.2020.599109
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85100755837
VL - 11
JO - Frontiers in Psychology
JF - Frontiers in Psychology
SN - 1664-1078
M1 - 599109
ER -