Risk and resilience factors for posttraumatic stress symptomatology in Gulf War I veterans

What factors distinguish war‐exposed veterans who experience posttraumatic stress symptomatology (PTSS) from those who do not? This study used structural equation modeling procedures to examine the complex interplay among predeployment, war‐zone, and postdeployment factors as they relate to PTSS in a sample of Gulf War I veterans. A primary goal was to determine to what extent previously documented associations among Vietnam veterans would replicate in this more contemporary veteran cohort. Results supported a multivariate etiological perspective on PTSS, with war‐zone factors accounting for the largest proportion of variance in PTSS. The majority of hypothesized associations held, suggesting that the mechanisms underlying PTSS may be similar across veteran cohorts.