Race differences in response to combat stress

A number of authors have written poignantly about the Black experience in the Vietnam war; however, very little research has addressed this topic. The present report studied race differences in preservice, stressor, and outcome variables in a community sample of 181 war veterans. Blacks reported higher levels of stressors and outcome, particularly for PTSD-related symptoms. The results suggested that the relationship between stressors and outcome can be defined by a common regression line for Blacks and Whites, and that the high symptom levels observed for Blacks in the sample were accounted for by higher levels of stressors during their war experience. The cognitive coping mode of avoidance did not conform to this pattern and showed higher levels for Blacks even controlling for other factors. Potential cultural origins of this difference were noted.