engleski

Psychosocial adjustment, health and quality of life in Croatian Homeland War veterans

It is very well known that active soldiers encounter numerous stressors during the war. The impact of war stressors on one’s psychological wellbeing, social relationships, general health and quality of life does not end with the conclusion of the armed conflict. Recent studies show that the primary cause of death among Croatian Homeland War veterans is cancer, while the primary causes of death among general population are cardiovascular diseases. The lack of recognition and understanding of the consequences of the Homeland War has caused numerus oversights in institutional policies and public image of the veterans' population, but there is always a possibility to do more. Our aim is to present the results of several studies investigating psychosocial characteristics of Croatian Homeland War veterans, the nature of their war and post-war experiences and the potential effects of these experiences on their health, personal and social life. First, we will focus on the psychological consequences of active combat and show the relationship between combat exposure, coping strategies, emotional competence, regulation and control, quality of life and posttraumatic stress symptoms in Homeland War veterans. Second, we will describe the intergroup dynamics (relations between veterans and other social groups), the intragroup dynamics (relations within the veterans' population) as well as their impact on social capital. Finally, in order to point out their true needs and interests, we asked the veterans what kind of activities they would prefer to be engaged in. By understanding these processes and taking into account the specificities of the Homeland War and Croatian War veterans’ status, we will try to define key issues that are important for designing programs that will provide support for veterans at both individual and group levels and ensure the improvement of the quality of their personal and social life.

Homeland War, Coping, Emotional Competence, Group Cohesion, Quality of Life

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