Trajectories of self-rated health among veterans: A latent growth curve analysis of the impact of posttraumatic symptoms (original) (raw)

Objectives: To examine the effects of combat stress reaction (CSR) and posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTS) on the level and trajectories of self-rated health (SRH) over 20 years after war exposure. Methods: A total of 675 veterans comprising two groups, a CSR group (n= 369) and a matched control group without CSR (n= 306), were assessed in a prospective longitudinal design, 1, 2, 3, and 20 years after their participation in the 1982 Lebanon War. SRH and PTS were assessed repeatedly, at each point of measurement. Results: The ...