Correlates of Anger and Hostility in Iraq and Afghanistan War Veterans

Veteran soldiers who had been involved in combat sometimes have a problem readjusting to civilian life. Data reveals the presence of mental health problems in these soldiers, including posttraumatic stress disorder, alcohol abuse, and head injuries. These problems have been associated with higher risks of anger, hostility, and aggression from previous conflicts. There are other factors that can be observed as well: witnessing parental conflict, experience of child abuse, pre-deployment exposure to violence, and combat exposure. Veterans who have been exposed to violent combat during deployment may be more likely than those who saw less severe violence to participate in risky behaviors after deployment, including physical aggression.

676 veterans participated in the research. They were found through a registry that houses veterans who served in the U.S. armed forces after September 11, 2001. Participants were compensated $175 for completing the assessment.

Demographic variables consisted of education, age, gender, marital status, work status, and race. Historical factors were examined by completion of the Traumatic Life Events Questionnaire. This questionnaire has been used previously in veteran studies and examines exposure and response to trauma including, witnessing family violence while growing up and being a victim of child physical or sexual abuse, parental history of criminal arrest and parental history of severe mental illness. Military related questions included highest rank attained, total number of months deployed to Iraq or Afghanistan, and number of deployments to Iraq of Afghanistan. Combat exposure was measured using the Combat Exposure Scale. PTSD symptoms were assessed using the Davidson Trauma Scale.

Descriptive analysis showed that 11.2% of the sample perceived problems controlling violent behavior. Having problems controlling violence was significantly related to aggressive impulses. Higher education and current employment were both protective again anger and hostility. Traumatic brain injury during deployment, loss of consciousness, meeting the cutoff score for PTSD, and risk for alcohol misuse were significantly associated with anger and hostility measures.

The results indicate that several factors are related to anger and hostility in veterans from pervious conflicts – witnessing of family violence, history of abuse, and combat exposure. Clinicians should investigate specific types of behaviors and particular sets of risk factors.

Elbogen, Eric B, Wagner, H Ryan, Fuller, Sara R., Calhoun, Patrick S., et al. Correlates of Anger and Hostility in Iraq and Afghanistan War Veterans. The American Journal of Psychiatry. Sept 2010. Vol. 167, Iss. 9; Pg 1051, 8 pgs