Dissertation
Examining the relationship between race-related stressors and post-traumatic stress disorder among African American male Vietnam veterans
Washington State University
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Washington State University
12/2007
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.7273/000005692
Abstract
It is estimated that 1,700,000 Vietnam War veterans have experienced "clinically
serious stress reaction symptoms" (National Center for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder,
2005). Of this figure, all ethnic minorities (except for Japanese) reported the greatest life
time prevalence of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) compared to Whites (Kulka,
Schlenger, Fairbank, Hough, Jordan, Marmar, & Weiss, 1990). The National Vietnam
Veterans Readjustment Study (NVVRS) found that African American Vietnam War
veterans had greater exposure to war stressors and had more predisposing factors than
Whites (Kulka et al., 1990). The Race-Related Stressor Scale (RRSS) is the only
instrument that exists to measure race-related stressors that contribute uniquely and
substantially to PTSD symptoms and generalized psychiatric distress in an ethnic
minority Vietnam Veteran sample. A previous study found that race-related stressors
account for a significant proportion of the variance in PTSD symptoms of Asian
American Vietnam Veterans (Loo, Fairbank, Scurfield, Ruch, King, Adams, & Chemtob,
2001). Although African American Vietnam War veterans are one of the most frequently
studied samples, no instrument exists to measure race-related exposure accounting for
their PTSD symptoms.
There are two purposes of this study: Primary is to adapt and validate the RRSS
using an African American Vietnam Veteran sample, and secondary is to examine the
amount of variability the adapted RRSS accounts for in PTSD and generalized
psychiatric distress symptoms. This new measure will be called the Vietnam Racial
Stressor Scale for African American Vietnam Veterans (VRSS). The construct validity
of the adapted RRSS will be examined by investigating the relationship between the
VRSS, PTSD, and general psychiatric distress symptoms, controlling for military rank
and exposure to combat. The temporal stability of the VRSS will be assessed using
Cronbach’s Alpha method. Results of the temporal stability of the VRSS will be
compared to Loo et al., (2001) RRSS temporal stability for Asian American Vietnam
War veterans. A general discussion of the temporal stability comparisons between the
RRSS and its adaptations will suggest the generalizability of the RRSS with other
Vietnam War veteran ethnic groups.
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Details
- Title
- Examining the relationship between race-related stressors and post-traumatic stress disorder among African American male Vietnam veterans
- Creators
- David Zamon Williams
- Contributors
- Brian W McNeill (Chair) - Washington State University, Department of Kinesiology and Educational Psychology
- Awarding Institution
- Washington State University
- Academic Unit
- College of Education
- Theses and Dissertations
- Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Washington State University
- Publisher
- Washington State University
- Number of pages
- 117
- Identifiers
- 99901054762801842
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Dissertation