TY - JOUR
T1 - Examining factors associated with self-reported cognitive functioning in elite military settings
T2 - considerations of combat experiences and post-traumatic stress symptomology
AU - Price, Malena M.
AU - Zanesco, Anthony P.
AU - Denkova, Ekaterina
AU - Jha, Amishi P.
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© The Author(s) 2024.
PY - 2024/12
Y1 - 2024/12
N2 - Exposure to traumatic events is associated with post-traumatic stress symptomology (PTSS) in a variety of populations. PTSS is also associated with self-reported everyday cognitive failures, which are acknowledged attentional lapses experienced in one’s naturalistic everyday environment. While a growing literature suggests that PTSS is associated with both traumatic events and attentional functions, little is known regarding similar associations in elite military cohorts, such as Special Operations Forces (SOF) personnel. Herein, we investigate if prior combat experience is associated with everyday cognitive failures, while considering the possible mediating role of PTSS. SOF personnel (N = 119) completed self-report questionnaires assessing prior combat experience, PTSS, and everyday cognitive failures. Direct and indirect associations between these metrics were examined using structural equation modeling. Mediation analyses revealed that the correspondence between combat experiences and everyday cognitive failures is mediated by the severity of subclinical levels of PTSS. Such findings suggest that greater attention to subclinical PTSS is warranted due to its significant association with everyday cognitive failures that may contribute to deleterious mission-related failures in high-demand tactical professionals, such as SOF.
AB - Exposure to traumatic events is associated with post-traumatic stress symptomology (PTSS) in a variety of populations. PTSS is also associated with self-reported everyday cognitive failures, which are acknowledged attentional lapses experienced in one’s naturalistic everyday environment. While a growing literature suggests that PTSS is associated with both traumatic events and attentional functions, little is known regarding similar associations in elite military cohorts, such as Special Operations Forces (SOF) personnel. Herein, we investigate if prior combat experience is associated with everyday cognitive failures, while considering the possible mediating role of PTSS. SOF personnel (N = 119) completed self-report questionnaires assessing prior combat experience, PTSS, and everyday cognitive failures. Direct and indirect associations between these metrics were examined using structural equation modeling. Mediation analyses revealed that the correspondence between combat experiences and everyday cognitive failures is mediated by the severity of subclinical levels of PTSS. Such findings suggest that greater attention to subclinical PTSS is warranted due to its significant association with everyday cognitive failures that may contribute to deleterious mission-related failures in high-demand tactical professionals, such as SOF.
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U2 - 10.1038/s41598-024-65826-3
DO - 10.1038/s41598-024-65826-3
M3 - Article
C2 - 39160156
AN - SCOPUS:85201571662
SN - 2045-2322
VL - 14
JO - Scientific Reports
JF - Scientific Reports
IS - 1
M1 - 19161
ER -