Posttramatic Growth (PTG) Across the Lifespan: Coping Stretegies and Resilience of American Korean War Veterans

Most research on trauma among military veterans focuses on its debilitating effects. However, research on other forms of trauma, such as sexual assault, suggests survivors experience positive life changes in the adversity. The posttraumatic growth (PTG) is a multifaceted concept including resiliencies and coping strategies. Few studies examine PTG among veterans and no research examines this from a lifespan perspective. This study investigates PTG among America’s Korean War Veterans (KWV) 60 years after their service. Our purpose was to identify coping strategies and resiliencies that a group of KWV’s employed to grow after their service. Knowledge of how older veterans faced and moved beyond their wartime experiences may provide non-clinical avenues to assist younger veterans make an optimal post-service adjustment.

Twenty KWV’s (average 82 years-old) participated in the focus group study. Participants came from two chapters of the KWVs Association. They were Caucasian Americans (95%). Eighty percent live with a spouse. Most had more than high school education (90%) and a stable financial condition. Major source of support was their spouse (60%). We discussed the following topics: post-service challenges, personal strengths, coping mechanisms, and social support. A focal point was how their service experiences helped them cope, grow or change. Audio recordings were transcribed verbatim. The authors reviewed all transcripts independently and identified dominant themes. Then, the authors came to reach consensus themes, refining and confirming that helped promote rigor in the development of themes.  Direct quotes from participants are used to illustrate these themes. 

The data analysis reveals that KWVs faced many challenges upon discharge from the military. These included resuming responsibility as a breadwinner, finding work, loss of other family members or friends who served, psychological distress (PTSD), family issues, alcohol use, and stereotypes against veterans. Simply adjusting to daily civilian life posed a challenge after the structured life in the military. Resuming marriage and other significant relationships also proved difficult because ‘life kept happening while you’re gone.” Their own changes also fed into the difficulties in renegotiating marriages and other important relationships.

Participants describe how they coped in positive ways with these challenges.  The majority agreed that family, spousal, and peer support were very strong resources. Active coping strategies, personal resiliencies, and religion emerged as key factors in the PTG process. Participants reported growth and change in several areas such as an increased recognition of the value of family and friends or finding a greater sense of altruism. They also exhibited a greater sense of personal resiliency, along with accepting their weaknesses and limitations.  Like many other survivors of deeply traumatic experiences, they reported greater appreciation of each day of life and a more optimistic world-view.

Findings highlight the importance of helping veterans connect with social support, identify resiliencies, and learn to employ active coping strategies. Ultimately, KWVs are a valuable resource from which younger veterans can learn. By understanding the coping strategies and resiliencies used by KWVs to overcome life’s challenges after service, developing more community and peer-based avenues to empower younger veterans may prove useful.