Cognitive Processing of Trauma and Attitudes Toward Disclosure in the First Six Months After Military Deployment

OBJECTIVES: To examine the role of cognitive processing and attitudes toward trauma disclosure among newly returned veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars. METHOD: In total, 110 veterans completed the Cognitive Processing of Trauma Scale, Disclosure of Trauma Questionnaire, and assessments of posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSS), depression, and posttraumatic growth (PTG). RESULTS: Both maladaptive and adaptive processing were the strongest predictors of PTSS and depression, ßs = .21 to .38. However, urge to discuss trauma was the main predictor of PTG, ß = .53. Correlational findings suggested that veterans' willingness to discuss their traumas and reactivity to doing so were related with their processing of these experiences, rs = .23 to .40. CONCLUSION: This study provides further support for the critical intersection between cognitive processing and disclosure, while also suggesting the need for more research on the intra- and inter-personal dimensions of these constructs in negative and constructive outcomes after trauma.