Mediation of Cognitive Appraisal on Combat Exposure and Psychological Distress

Applying Cognitive Appraisal Theory (Lazarus & Folkman, 1984 Lazarus, R. S. and Folkman, S. 1984. Stress, appraisal, and coping, New York, NY: Springer Publishing Company. [Google Scholar]), this study sought to determine the mediating effect of cognitive appraisal on combat exposure and psychological distress. A total of 3,002 military personnel completed measures of combat exposure, cognitive appraisal of combat-related events, and psychological distress either during or soon after combat operations in Afghanistan. Bootstrapping was employed to test the mediation model. Cognitive appraisal mediated the relationship between combat exposure and psychological distress, suggesting that the impact of a potentially stressful event on well-being is contingent on one's appraisal of that event. Implications for future research and training are presented.