The effect of social support that the retired Turkish Armed Forces perceive on their attitudes towards coping with traumatic stress and stress

The aim of this study is to examine the connection between TSK employees' level of perceived social support, traumatic stress and their attitudes towards coping stress in terms of defined socio-demographic variables. In accordance with this purpose, Multi-dimensional Perceived Social Support Scale (ÇBASDÖ), Coping Attitudes Rating Scale (COPE), Traumatic Stress Symptom Scale (TSBÖ) and Socio-demographic Data Form were used with 384 retired Turkish armed forces, chosen by simple random sampling. It was found out that their perceived social support level was high and the level of attitudes' towards coping traumatic stress was medium. It was also found out that there was a negative meaningful correlation between social support levels, traumatic stress levels and its sub dimensions. It can be concluded that, their social support levels were problem-focused and emotion-focused apart from passing over lightly; all their attitudes towards coping and among dysfunctional coping attitudes only focusing on the problem and demonstrative way sub dimensions indicated a positive meaningful correlation. Moreover, among passing over lightly, denial, mental undermining, behavioral undermining and drug abuse sub dimensions indicated a negative meaningful correlation. About traumatic stress levels, apart from focusing on the problem and demonstrative way, all dysfunctional coping attitudes and among emotion-focused coping attitudes only passing over lightly were found out to have a positive meaningful correlation. Among social support levels and demographic variables the ones who were married, who had a big family, who currently have a family and a good income and the members of TESUD indicated a positive meaningful correlation. Among traumatic stress levels and demographic variables, the results were in favor of the ones who graduated from an associate degree, who were single, who were raised in a nuclear family and currently have a big family, who had a low income, who were members of TEMAD, who worked at TKK and JGK, who had psychological support, who witnessed a terror attack or a gun fight, who were injured or witnessed someone being injured or died, who had an injured or martyred fellow soldier. Among coping attitudes and demographic variables, the results were in favor of the ones who were 71 and above, who were single, who were raised in a nuclear family, who had a good economic situation, who were members of TESUD, who worked at TDK, who passed 10 years of retirement period and who were injured. The variables of TSSB, depression, suppressing other activities, using social support, espousing, mental undermining and drug abuse predict the total score of social support and family sub dimension. While perceived social support total score and passing over lightly affect the friendship dimension, drug abuse has no connection with it. Additionally, depression and using social support variables predict the special person sub dimension. This study was aimed to contribute the upcoming studies in the field.