Military Trauma, Transition Stressors, Alcohol and Crime Post-Deployment: Understanding Their Relationship and Mitigating Negative Consequences

• In Event: Environmental Influences on the Development of Behavior and Victimization

Abstract

Alcohol misuse is associated with most crimes committed by military personnel and recently transitioned post-9/11 veterans, particularly those who suffer from posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and experience a greater number of stressors transitioning from the military. However, the relationship between symptom severity/transition stressors and alcohol-related criminal activities remains unclear. Even less understood is the ability of community-based and prophylactic interventions (especially mentorship) to mitigate PTSD, transition stressors and crime.
This study predicts: 1) greater PTSD symptom severity and transition stressors and less social support will be associated with endorsement of alcohol abuse and types of criminal incidents; and 2) Trained, peer mentorship will reduce PTSD severity, alcohol abuse and criminal incidents compared to a waitlist group.
A sample of 219 post- 9/11 veterans from the New York City have already enrolled in a randomized clinical trial evaluating the efficacy of a peer mentorship program. Enrollment will continue for 600 veterans. Participants respond to surveys provided at baseline, follow-up#1 (4 months), follow-up#2 (10 months), and follow-up#3 (16 months) and answer questions related to PTSD symptomatology, transition stressors, social support, alcohol use, and self-reported criminal offenses. After completing follow-up#3, researchers additionally access DMV records and New York State criminal records.

Authors

• Joseph Geraci, Teachers College, Columbia University

• Caroline Angel, University of Cambridge / Team Red, White, & Blue

• Raina Lamade, Fairleigh Dickinson University

• Savannah Grier, Teachers College, Columbia University

• Sinead Sinnott, Teachers College, Columbia University

• Rachel Harris, Teachers College, Columbia University

• Jillian Arenz, Teachers College, Columbia University

• George Bonanno, Teachers College, Columbia University