(PS7-B35) Perceived Morally Injurious Behaviors Are Associated with Less Public Stigma for Veterans with Combat-related PTSD

Veterans with combat-related PTSD (CR-PTSD) experience public stigma (Caldwell & Lauderdale, 2018). Although variables associated with public stigma for veterans have been identified, others are possible, such as acting aggressively or exhibiting morally injurious behaviors, which is behaving in ways that violate moral expectations (Boysen, 2017; Sprankle et al., 2018). No research has directly evaluated this for veterans with CR-PTSD. We compared participants’ stigma ratings for a veteran with CR-PTSD who described explicitly engaging in violence during combat to a veteran whose description of violence was implicit. We also assessed if participants believed a veteran acted morally injuriously during combat would be more stigmatized and associated with increased perception of veterans being at risk for mental disorders and violence. Finally, we assessed if participants’ PTSD symptoms, PTSD knowledge, and esteem for military service members was associated with public stigma for veterans with CR-PTSD.

In an online investigation, participants completed measures of PTSD symptoms (Posttraumatic Symptoms Scale; Foa et al. 1993), PTSD Knowledge (Harick et al., 2016), and Warrior Identify items (eight assessing esteem for military; Lancaster et al., 2018). Afterwards, participants were randomized to read one of two transcripts of a veteran describing his combat experiences. In the explicit transcript, the veteran described actively participating in violence during combat. In the implicit vignette, the veteran’s description about combat experiences implied, but did not describe, use of violence. Following, participants completed measures of public stigma for veterans (assessing nine domains of stigma; Attributions Questionnaire-27; Corrigan et al., 2003), perceived morally injurious behaviors of veterans (modified version of the Moral Injury Questionnaire-Military Version; Currier et al., 2015), and perceived veterans’ risks for experiencing mental disorders, violence, and substance use (MacLean & Kleycamp, 2014).

319 participants completed data and analysis is available for 149 participants. There were no participant gender differences in perceived morally injurious behaviors (t(139) = 1.07, p > .05). Using a one-way multivariate ANOVA for vignette, there were no differences in most public stigma domains (all Fs < 2.56, ps > .05); however, participants were more willing to help the veteran in the implicit vignette (F(1,141) = 4.49, p < .05). Perceived moral injurious behaviors of the veteran was associated with less perceived risks for mental disorders, substance use, violence, and blame for mental health problems (rs(141) ranged from -.28 to -.36). PTSD knowledge was associated with less desire to segregate veterans (r(141) = -.18, p < .05) and more pity (r(141) = .19, p < .05). Esteem for veterans’ contributions were correlated with more pity (r(141) = .24, p < .01) and desire to help (r(141) = .20, p < .05) veterans, while participants’ PTSD symptoms were associated with less desire to avoid the veterans (r(141) = -.18, p < .05). Results will be discussed in light of public stigma models for mental disorders.