Relations Between PTSD Symptoms and Reckless Behaviors Among Military Veteran Students: Moderating Roles of Negative and Positive Life Experiences

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms and engagement in reckless behaviors are substantially linked. Various factors have been shown to influence the course of PTSD symptoms and reckless behaviors. To extend this literature, the study examined the potential moderating roles of the number of negative (lifetime traumatic events, adverse childhood events [ACEs], delinquent behaviors) and positive (e.g., benevolent childhood experiences [BCEs]) life experiences in the associations between PTSD symptom severity and engagement in reckless behaviors. Participants were 121 military veteran students and alumni at a public university in the southwestern United States (76.9% men, M-age = 34.08). Results indicated significant moderating effects of the number of ACEs (b = 0.03, p = .001) and the number of delinquent behaviors (b = .02, p = .036) on associations between PTSD symptom severity and engagement in reckless behaviors. Simple slope analyses revealed that greater PTSD symptom severity was associated with more reckless behavior engagement among individuals endorsing more ACEs and more delinquent behaviors. Findings provide insight into the detrimental impacts of ACEs and delinquent behaviors on engagement in reckless behaviors. Treatment providers should assess for ACEs and delinquent behaviors among individuals reporting PTSD symptoms to understand how these experiences may contribute to reckless behaviors.