This study systematically investigates the relationship between intensity of Vietnam combat exposure and the transfer of trauma symptoms to adult children of veterans. Forty male combat veterans who comprised high and low combat intensity groups were administered a series of measures designed to assess PTSD, depression, anxiety, intrusive thoughts, and avoidance responses. Veterans also completed an emotional Stroop procedure involving combat relevant and non-relevant stimuli. Offspring of veterans (n = 53) completed similar measures. It was found that offspring affective responses were impacted by level of combat intensity. The most pronounced effects occurred on the emotional Stroop wherein children of high combat veterans showed the longest Stroop response latencies. Offspring of veterans were found to be relatively well adjusted despite many of their parent-veterans having PTSD. Results support the Stroop paradigm as a valuable research tool for investigating the parent - child transfer of subtle emotional effects.
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