Coping strategies employed by black women in South African National Defence Force (SANDF) post deployment-related trauma

Soldiers encounter traumatic events during deployment that can have negative consequences on their mental and physical well-being. However, there is dearth of research studies that focuses on coping with trauma amongst the SANDF members following deployment, especially women. Therefore, the purpose of the current study was to explore the lived experiences of Black women in the  SANDF and how they cope following deployment-related trauma. Data was collected by means of semi structured interviews among six participants who provided a rich detailed description of their lived experiences and coping strategies they used following a traumatic encounter. Interpretative phenomenological analysis was used to interpret and analyse the data gathered. The findings of the study illuminated participants’ lived experiences of deployment, and the coping strategies they utilised following deployment-related trauma. The participants highlighted the emotional and psychological manifestations of their traumatic experiences, the role of their support system, as well as the barriers to seeking psychological services. They also highlighted positive aspects, shared lessons they learned from deployment and as well as challenges they were confronted with both during and post deployment. Given the complexity of trauma, it is therefore recommended that future studies look at the effectiveness of existing interventions put in place to combat the effects of deployment related-trauma in the SANDF, as well as the impact of deployment on the family of deployed soldier.

士兵在部署期间遭遇创伤性事件，这些事件可能对其心理和身体健康造成负面影响。然而，针对南非国防军（SANDF）成员，尤其是女性在部署后应对创伤的研究文献匮乏。因此，本研究旨在探讨南非国防军黑人女性在遭遇与部署相关的创伤后的生活体验及其应对策略。数据通过六位参与者的半结构化访谈收集，他们提供了丰富详细的个人生活经历和创伤遭遇后的应对策略描述。研究采用了现象学解释分析的方法对收集到的数据进行了诠释和分析。研究结果揭示了参与者部署期间的生活体验以及他们在遭遇与部署相关的创伤后所采取的应对策略。参与者强调了创伤经历的情感和心理表现、支持系统的作用以及寻求心理服务的障碍。他们还突出了积极方面，分享了从部署中学到的经验教训，以及他们在部署期间及部署后所面临的挑战。鉴于创伤的复杂性，因此建议未来的研究应考察现有干预措施在对抗南非国防军与部署相关的创伤影响方面的有效性，以及部署对部署士兵家庭的影响。