Family Functioning, Perceived Societal Support, and Combat-Related Psychopathology: The Moderating Role of Loneliness

The main aim of the current study was to investigate the effects of external sources of perceived social support (family, society) and feelings of loneliness on combat-related psychopathology following a breakdown in war. A sample of Israeli soldiers who fought in the 1982 Lebanon war and suffered from combat stress reaction were given a battery of questionnaires assessing social support, loneliness, and psychopathology 2 years after the war. Results indicate that external sources of perceived social support and loneliness were significantly associated with various dimensions of psychopathology. It was also found that the external sources of perceived social support influenced psychopathology indirectly via their impact on feelings of loneliness. In addition, loneliness was found to be the only direct antecedent of combat-related psychopathology. The multifaceted nature of social support and the differential contributions of its components to mental health are discussed.