The Role of Social Support in Predicting Depression and Task Overload Among College Students

Guided by the Relationships Motivation Theory, this short-term longitudinal study examined associations between social support (i.e., relatedness), depression, and stress in the form of task overload among emerging adult, university students (N = 184 at time one; N = 105 at time two; 69.2% female). Results from a series of path models indicated a significant relationship between decreased perceptions of social support over time and an increase in perceived task overload with significant mediating effects through depressive symptomology. Implications for counseling services as well as intervention and awareness points for university professionals are discussed

From Theory to Practice: A Theory-Informed, Critical Review of Research on Military Marriages

Military marriages may be particularly vulnerable to marital distress and dissolution due to the unique challenges associated with military service. To better understand the research regarding military marriages, a critical literature review was conducted. Fifteen peer-reviewed, published articles were critically reviewed based on their theoretical applications and empirical findings. Articles were categorized according to stage in marriage and primary theoretical orientation. Results suggest that military marriages are at risk due to military factors, but they are also mostly stable. Results also indicate that theories are rarely made explicit in military marriage literature. Future research would benefit from providing clearer links from theory to hypothesis testing. Finally, empirical findings are translated into practical implications at the macro-level and micro-levels of intervention

Does Religion Buffer the Impact Combat Exposure has on Depressive Symptomology?

Seventy percent of service members identify as religious, and an accumulation of evidence supports the protective role religiosity may play in buffering mental health outcomes; therefore, it is important to examine if religion acts as a buffer for these individuals. Guided by religious coping theory, this study examined whether religiosity moderated the effect of combat exposure on depression in a sample of U.S. Army Soldiers (N=10,666). Data were drawn from the All Army Study (AAS) component of the larger Army Study to Assess Risk and Resilience in Servicemembers (STARRS) dataset. Using moderated path analysis, findings suggest that religiosity moderated the association between combat exposure and depression, such that higher levels of religiosity were associated with a lower impact of combat exposure on depression. Implications for military helping professionals include identifying leverage points for intervention such as during reintegration, particularly for Soldiers who identify religion to be important to them

Sense of (Online) Community? The Social Organization Theory of Action and Change and Adult Video Game Players

Much investigation has explored the potential effects of video games in adolescence. However, limited research has been conducted on the effects of social video game play and individual and relational well-being in adults. The Social Organization Theory of Action and Change (SOAC) may be a helpful way to examine social behaviors (like gaming) and how they relate to well-being. This exploratory study will utilize the SOAC to examine social gaming behaviors in adults, and examine the relationships between these behaviors and adult individual and relational outcomes (e.g., loneliness, relationship satisfaction). Descriptive statistics and correlations are provided. Regression analyses will be performed. Results will be used to discuss the viability of applying the SOAC to online, social gaming contexts. Implications for social video game play in adults will be provided

“Can there be growth after trauma? An application-focused review of posttraumatic growth”

Traumatic experiences are relatively common for individuals, particularly Military members, and can have long-term negative impacts such as posttraumatic stress, comorbid mental health symptoms, and functional impairment. However, a growing body of research suggests that some civilians and service members who experience traumas also report beneficial personal growth from the experience; this phenomenon has been termed Posttraumatic Growth (PTG). Understanding PTG and how it occurs has important implications for civilian and Military individuals who have experienced trauma as well as the helping professionals who serve them. This literature review provides an overview of trauma, definitions and conceptual frameworks of PTG mechanisms, static and dynamic factors related to PTG, and examples of interventions used to promote growth. Relevant and application-focused implications for helping professionals are provided