<p> Following more than decade of U.S. military operations in the in the Middle East, it is important to understand the impact of prolonged combat operations on the wellbeing of Veterans. To understand this relationship accurately we must have access to reliable and valid measures of combat exposure. A meta-analysis of research with combat Veterans found relatively few studies adequately assessed nature and extent of Veteran&rsquo;s combat experiences (Institute of Medicine, 2008). </p><p> The purpose of this research was to develop a more comprehensive measure of combat exposure for use in research on post-combat psychological outcomes. Seventeen Veterans participated in focus groups to support the development the Assessment of Combat Experiences (ACE). A sample of 121 Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) and Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) veterans was used to assess the psychometric properties of the ACE. Participants completed the ACE, as well as additional measures of combat exposure and psychopathology. The ACE demonstrated strong internal consistency (Cronbach&rsquo;s Alpha = . 96) and test-retest reliability (<i>r</i> = .85). Convergent and construct validity for the ACE were supported as evidenced by strong correlations (<i> r</i> = .72 to .86) with two combat-related subscales from the <i> Defense Risk and Resiliency Inventory - 2</i> (Vogt, Smith, King, &amp; King 2012), and the <i>Combat Exposure Scale</i> (Keane et al., 1989). The ACE demonstrated similar correlations with measures of psychopathology (PTSD, depression, and anxiety) as the CES and the DRRI-2. The ACE includes more detailed questions than other measures, allowing researchers to explore the impact of proximity to hostile fire, the frequency of exposures, the duration of specific exposures, and the nature of weapons used during combat operations better than is possible with other validated measures. Overall, there was strong evidence for the reliability and validity of the ACE in measuring combat exposure among this sample of OIF and OEF Veterans.</p>

<p> The purpose of this artistic self-case study is to explore how the role of the soldier might be transformed from service <i>in war</i> to service <i>for community,</i> via creative exploration of the archetypal figures, Warrior and Shaman. With this in mind, a creative and introspective method was tested for its efficacy in generating new images and stories to promote conflict transformation for our warrior class. </p><p> The strategy of inquiry employed is based on the case study model, modified to be a self-case study. Creation-based data was generated by the researcher to evoke intersubjective dialogue between academically rational and creatively nonrational data and processes in this research. In lieu of the traditional written chapters that comprise the body of a dissertation, &ldquo;creative chapters&rdquo; in the form of mixed media pictorial representations are presented. Data analysis was conducted using Abt&rsquo;s (2005) articulation of Jungian picture interpretation, in order to discern meaning from each creative chapter&mdash;the titles of which served as a query for topics related to the research question. </p><p> A liberation paradigm was then utilized as a critical point of departure, to guide the issues examined (healing and community roles for our warrior class), the people for whom the study is relevant (the warrior class and practitioners working with them), the researcher&rsquo;s role in the study (up front/personal; grounded in experience), and how the research was presented in its final form (written text with supporting pictorial data; conclusions drawn from creative interpretation). </p><p> The combined chapter interpretations were reviewed and analyzed in the concluding chapter for their implications in community praxis with returning soldiers and veterans. They revealed consistent themes of imbalanced masculine and feminine energies, and the need for development of an introspective, Shamanic aptitude by our Warriors in order for them to continue their duty of protection and care of their local communities. </p><p> Recommendations are then made for adapting this research model in community work with soldiers and veterans, along with suggestions for building greater levels of reliability, validity, and generalizability into creative qualitative research. </p><p> Keywords: Warrior, Shaman, trauma, conflict transformation, resilient communities, Jungian, phronesis, counterinsurgency, initiation, creative.</p>

<p> Although media attention is increasing describing the effects military commander&rsquo;s toxic leadership has on the organization and subordinate military members, few studies focus on an Army commander toxic leadership (ACTL) as experienced by an Army officer&rsquo;s wife (AOW) whose spouse is subordinate to the ACTL. Researchers have focused on the unique stressors experienced by military members and their families in an attempt to gain insight and understanding into the unique culture from a stress theory perspective. Studies report the active duty member&rsquo;s is challenged with negative interpersonal relationship problems, reduced coping skills, limited resources, and feelings of hopelessness resulting from the exposure to a commander&rsquo;s toxic leadership. The stress theory is rooted in positive psychology focusing on individual perceptions and strengths to overcome stressors from a culturally competent lens. This qualitative phenomenological study explores the lived experiences of 10 Army officer&rsquo;s wives on their journey through an Army commander&rsquo;s toxic leadership. The participants were recruited nationwide from the social media network, Facebook. Participants were interviewed using a modified, semi-structured interview guide to insure responses were related to the central research question. The results of the study confirmed the presence of non-normative stressors, coping skills, resources, and crises framed from a stress theory perspective. Themes were related to ACTL stressor description, ACTL hardships, stressor meeting resources, and outcome gains and costs. The study concluded that the experience of an ACTL is an institutional cancer with the high-propensity to metastasize, leaving a path of destruction, poison, and scars in its&rsquo; path.</p>

No description available.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Washington, 1992. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves [450]-480).

Thesis (M.A.)--Carleton University, 2003. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 125-133). Also available in electronic format on the Internet.

Thesis (M.S.)--University of Wisconsin--Madison, 1965. / eContent provider-neutral record in process. Description based on print version record. Bibliography: l. 31-32.

This study is a critical review of the existing literature pertaining to combat and operational stress reactions (COSRs) in female active duty service members. Presented is a description of COSRs, a review of prevention programs, and an examination of gender differences. Utilizing literature from academic journal databases, the researcher reviewed articles demonstrating the content, feasibility, and efficacy of primary and secondary prevention activities. These activities included unit needs assessments, stress inoculation, mindfulness, master resiliency training, anxiety reduction training, psychological first aid, restoration centers, deployment transition centers, debriefings, graphic novels, and the influence of family and leader systemic levels. Females’ unique experiences are narrated from the literature to include motherhood, pregnancy, contraception, menstruation, and “gendered stress.” A discussion of military sexual assault is presented. Suggestions are made for future research to involve development of COSR criteria, screening tools including unique gendered questions, oversampled efficacy studies for females, and studies focused on transgender service members.

Frequent military deployments have been associated with relationship issues for active-duty members, such as marital conflict and infidelity. Previous research has indicated that attachment, communication, and mental health are associated with military marriages’ stability during deployment. However, there remains an important gap in the current literature on military marriages regarding perceptions of infidelity (emotional and sexual). Proponents of attachment theory postulate that early attachment experiences facilitate the development of self-perception as well as perceptions of others. From this perspective, the attachment of military spouses is associated with their perceptions of their active-duty spouses engaging in infidelity. The purpose of this quantitative study was to examine the relationship between attachment, as measured by the Adult Attachment Scale, and infidelity perceptions, as measured by the Infidelity Expectations Questionnaire, for military spouses during their active-duty members’ deployment. A sample of 178 military spouses was recruited through social media platforms to complete surveys. Correlation analysis and multiple linear regression were conducted to identify the association and strength between attachment scores and infidelity perceptions. Findings indicate that proximity was a challenge due to deployment, during which spouses were continuously faced with communication challenges and feeling detached from the active-duty member. This contribution to existing literature may enhance social-change initiatives by informing education for military couples, providing a basis for attachment and infidelity-related training.

No description available.