The Impact of Conflict Exposure, PTSD, and So...

The Impact of Conflict Exposure, PTSD, and Social Support on Posttraumatic Growth a Study of the Kashmir Conflict

Author Name : Saani Zehra, Rayees Mohammad Bhat, Shahnawaz Mushtaq

 

DOI: https://doi.org/10.56025/IJARESM.2023.116231826

 

ABSTRACT

Background: Research has explored the associations between conflict exposure, PTSD symptoms, social support, and posttraumatic growth, there is a need for more specific investigations in the context of the Kashmir conflict.

Aim: This study investigated the relationships between conflict exposure, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms, perceived social support, and posttraumatic growth (PTG) in a sample of college students exposed to the Kashmir conflict.

Methods: A total of 200 participants completed measures including the Exposure to Kashmir Conflict Checklist (EKCC), the PTSD Checklist-Civilian Version (PCL-C), the Posttraumatic Growth Inventory (PTG-I), and the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS).

Results: Correlation analysis revealed a positive association between conflict exposure and PTSD scores(r = 0.429, p < 0.01), indicating that higher levels of conflict exposure were linked to more severe PTSD symptoms. Additionally, a negative correlation was found between PTSD scores and perceived social support (r = -0.180, p < 0.05), suggesting that individuals with higher levels of PTSD symptoms perceived lower levels of support. Furthermore, a strong positive correlation was observed between PTG scores and social support scores (r = 0.474, p < 0.01), indicating that individuals with higher levels of posttraumatic growth also perceived higher levels of social support. Regression analysis demonstrated that perceived social support significantly predicted PTG (β= 0.637, p< .01, F (1,198) = 57.27, p < .001), and when combined with PTSD scores, improved the prediction of PTG (β= 0.186, p< .05, F (2,197) = 32.33, p < .001).

Conclusion: The findings underscore the importance of social support in facilitating posttraumatic growth and highlight the impact of PTSD symptoms on both perceived support and growth. Mental health interventions should prioritize social support and address PTSD symptoms to promote positive psychological changes following trauma.

Keywords: conflict exposure, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), perceived social support, posttraumatic growth (PTG), and trauma