The experience of living with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) for African American male Veterans

Abstract:For this study, I conducted interviews with African American male veterans who have been formally diagnosed with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). The objective was to shed light on the experiences of living with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder in African American Male veterans. My approach to obtaining participants was through word-of-mouth to former veterans and around a Veterans Affairs (VA) Hospital. The veterans branch of military service, age, or religion did not preclude them from participating in this study. I used semi-structured interviews. To ensure the validity or trustworthiness of my study, I used the eight strategies that Creswell suggested that strengthen a qualitative study’s trustworthiness or validity. The themes I identified after interviewing the veterans were: struggles with personal relationships, coping mechanisms, mental health treatment and experiences with the Veterans Affairs Hospital (VA), work and professional challenges due to their diagnosis of PTSD after post-discharge from the military. I hope the results of my study may assist the VA, practitioners, policymakers, veteran assistance organizations and future scholars in determining how to effectively understand and treat African American male veterans.

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