PTSD and Coping Resources among Survivors of a Kamikaze Attack: The Role of Character Strength

Abstract

33 survivors of the U.S.S. Emmons ( M age = 79.7 yr., SD = 2.3), which was sunk by kamikaze attacks during World War II, were given an adapted form of the Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Checklist–Civilian and a set of questions regarding 8 coping resources they may have used during the war. Participants were categorized into three groups: those who served on the Emmons at any given time during World War II (Any Service), those who experienced combat while aboard the Emmons or another ship during World War II (Any Combat), and those who were serving on board the Emmons when it was sunk during the battle for Okinawa island (Okinawa). Analyses using a one-tailed Spearman rank-order correlation indicated that scores on only one coping resource, Character Strength, were significantly correlated with lower symptoms of PTSD for all three groups (Any Service: rs = −.46, p < .01; Any Combat: rs = −.47, p < .01; Okinawa: rs = −.45, p < .05). The findings suggest that, for the survivors of the Emmons, psychological qualities, not social influences, were associated with a lower risk for developing PTSD.