Approximately 13 to 30% of service members returning from Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom have Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) (Institute of Medicine, 2012). The purpose of this research is to examine the relationship between self-identified PTSD and self-reported coping abilities. Active duty and veteran volunteers (n=77) took the PTSD Checklist – Military Version (PCL-M), 26 were identified as having high PTSD scores (+PTSD) and 51 were identified as having low scores, such that they would not be suspected of having PTSD (-PTSD). Volunteers took the self-reported Brief COPE Inventory. Using independent samples T tests, those with +PTSD used dysfunctional coping strategies of Behavioral Disengagement (giving up, helplessness) t(32.735)=2.898,p=0.007; Venting (focusing on distress and venting emotions) t(36.537)=2.264, p=0.030; and Self Blame (self- criticizing and self-fault) t(38.147)=4.161, p<0.001 more often than those with -PTSD. These results provide information on the coping skills of those with self-identified +PTSD, according to the PCL-M. Further research and engaging new recruits and those with PTSD in learning positive coping skills are recommended.
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