Social Identity Gaps and PTSD: A Qualitative Study of Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans

Author

Jonathan Christopher Thibault, Arkansas State UniversityFollow

Date of Award

3-24-2021

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Communication Studies, MA

First Advisor

Dinah Tetteh

Committee Members

Marceline Hayes; Scott Anderson

Call Number

LD 251 .A566t 2020 T45

Abstract

​Many Veterans have been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) since the beginning of the Iraq/Afghanistan wars. Much research has been done to understand the disorder. However, little research has been done to see how the military acculturation process and PTSD affect the Veteran’s social identity. This research study aimed to find out what are the relationships between the military acculturation process and PTSD, and Veterans’ social identities. The study utilized the qualitative research method and the Communication Theory of Identity, specifically the personal-relational and personal-enacted identity gap layers of the theory. Eight Veterans, who self-reported having PTSD and served in Iraq/Afghanistan, were interviewed. The research found that Veterans manifested social identities involving personal-relational sub-themes of camaraderie and duty, and personal-enacted sub-themes of grandiose and discipline which developed from their acculturation process. PTSD-induced social identity manifestations found were the personal-relational sub-theme of social detachment and personal-enacted sub-theme of social maladjustment.

Rights Management

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Recommended Citation

Thibault, Jonathan Christopher, "Social Identity Gaps and PTSD: A Qualitative Study of Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans" (2021). Student Theses and Dissertations. 324.
https://arch.astate.edu/all-etd/324