This study examined the predictors of post-combat violent behavior in Vietnam veterans. Phone interview and archival data were used to obtain information on the predictor variables of mental disorder, combat exposure, exposure to abusive violence, the demographic variables of education and race, and the criterion variables of post-combat violent legal history and self-report of recent violence. Subjects were 74 veterans. Eleven subjects had a sole diagnosis of PTSD, 30 had a comorbid mood disorder, 2 had a comorbid anxiety disorder, and 31 had both comorbid mood and anxiety disorders. Eighty-one percent of subjects had a diagnosis of alcohol abuse, whereas only 43% met criteria for substance abuse. Nineteen percent of subjects reported no exposure to abusive violence, 23% reported witnessing, and 58% reported participating. Responses regarding recent violence indicated most veterans avoid conflict. If they act out, they do so verbally rather than physically. Thirty-four percent of subjects had no legal history, 19% had a history of nonviolent crime, 9% had a history of threat, 8% had inflicted mild physical injury on another person, 11% had caused serious physical injury, and 19% had multiple charges involving physical injury. The variables predicting violent legal history were significant with exposure to abusive violence and combat exposure making significant independent contributions. Questions and speculation regarding social isolation, overcontrol, physical agility, and correlates of education were offered in accounting for the results. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 56-12, Section: B, page: 7053. / Major Professor: Joyce L. Carbonell. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--The Florida State University, 1995.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:fsu.edu/oai:fsu.digital.flvc.org:fsu_77637 |
| Contributors | Peralme, Lynne., Florida State University |
| Source Sets | Florida State University |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Text |
| Format | 102 p. |
| Rights | On campus use only. |
| Relation | Dissertation Abstracts International |
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