Study of Empathy and Emotions in US Military Service Members

This is an anonymous online survey about empathy and emotions in members of the US Military. Please read each statement below and mark the answer that best fits you.

Are or were you enlisted or an officer?
Enlisted
Officer
Other

If you are or were in the military, how long did you or have you served?

Please answer the following four questions.

  1. Have you survived a trauma in which you experienced an event outside of your control that involved a physical threat?
    Yes No

  2. Have you survived a trauma in which you witnessed an event outside of your control that involved a physical threat to someone else?
    Yes No

  3. If you answered yes to both Questions 1 and 2, please indicate the trauma that has affected you the most.
    physical threat to yourself physical threat to someone else not applicable (no to both questions)

Please answer the following question as it relates to the trauma that has affected (upset) you the most.

  1. Did your response to the trauma involve intense helplessness, fear, or horror?
    Yes No

Below is a list of problems and complaints that active military and veterans sometimes have in response to stressful life experiences. Please read each one carefully and indicate how much you have been bothered by that problem in the last month.

Not at all A little bit Moderately Quite
a bit 		Extremely
5. Repeated, disturbing memories, thoughts, or images of a stressful military experience from the past?
6. Repeated, disturbing memories, thoughts, or images of harm occurring to another person?
7. Repeated, disturbing dreams of a stressful military experience from the past?
8. Suddenly acting or feeling as if a stressful military experience were happening again (as if you were reliving it)?
9. Feeling very upset when something reminded you of a stressful military experience from the past?
10. Having physical reactions (e.g., heart pounding, trouble breathing, or sweating) when something reminded you of a stressful military experience from the past?
11. Avoid thinking about or talking about a stressful military experience from the past or avoid having feelings related to it?
12. Avoid activities or situations because they remind you of a stressful military experience from the past?
13. Trouble remembering important parts of a stressful military experience from the past?
Not at all A little bit Moderately Quite
a bit 		Extremely
14. Loss of interest in things that you used to enjoy?
15. Feeling distant or cut off from other people?
16. Feeling emotionally numb or being unable to have loving feelings for those close to you?
17. Feeling as if your future will somehow be cut short?
18. Trouble falling or staying asleep?
19. Feeling irritable or having angry outbursts?
20. Having difficulty concentrating?
21. Being "super alert" or watchful on guard?
22. Feeling jumpy or easily startled?

IGQ (© O'Connor & Berry)

These are questions about your emotions. Please answer using the 1 to 5 response scale indicated.

Very untrue of me OR strongly disagree Not true of me OR disagree Sometimes true and sometimes not true OR undecided True of me OR agree Very true of me OR strongly agree
I conceal or minimize my successes.
I worry a great deal about my parents, or children, or siblings.
It makes me very uncomfortable to receive better treatment than the people I am with.
I am afraid to fully enjoy my successes because I fear something bad is just around the corner.
I often find myself doing what someone else wants me to do rather than doing what I would most enjoy.
I worry about hurting other people's feelings if I turn down an invitation from somebody who is eager for me to accept.
I sometimes feel that I don't deserve the happiness I've achieved.
I feel responsible at social gatherings for people who are not able to enter into conversations with others.
Very untrue of me OR strongly disagree Not true of me OR disagree Sometimes true and sometimes not true OR undecided True of me OR agree Very true of me OR strongly agree
It is very hard for me to cancel plans if I know the other person is looking forward to seeing me.
I worry a lot about the people I love even when they seem to be fine.
I generally have trouble saying "no" to people, i.e. refusing other people's deadlines.
I can't stand the idea of hurting someone else.
I am uncomfortable talking about my achievements in social situations.
If my child, spouse or close friends have a problem, I am very tempted to try to solve it for them.
It makes me very uncomfortable if I am more successful at something than are my friends or family members.
I feel uncomfortable when I feel better than other people.
Very untrue of me OR strongly disagree Not true of me OR disagree Sometimes true and sometimes not true OR undecided True of me OR agree Very true of me OR strongly agree
I feel uncomfortable when other people envy me for what I have.
If something goes wrong in the family, I tend to ask myself how I could have prevented it.
I tend to get somewhat depressed after important accomplishments.
I am afraid to get what I want because I feel there will be a price to pay that I did not anticipate.
It is easy for me to say "no" to others.
It is often hard for me to enjoy things I've been looking forward to.


CESD

Select the answer that best describes your situation over the past week.

During the Past Week: Rarely or none of the time
(less than 1 day) 		Some or little of the time
(1-2 days) 		Occasionally or a moderate amount of time
(3-4 days) 		Most or all of the time
(5-7 days)
I was bothered by things that usually don't bother me.
I did not feel like eating; my appetite was poor.
I felt that I could not shake off the blues even with help from my family or friends.
I felt that I was just as good as other people.
I had trouble keeping my mind on what I was doing.
I felt depressed.
I felt that everything I did was an effort.
I felt hopeful about the future.
During the Past Week: Rarely or none of the time
(less than 1 day) 		Some or little of the time
(1-2 days) 		Occasionally or a moderate amount of time
(3-4 days) 		Most or all of the time
(5-7 days)
I thought my life had been a failure.
I felt fearful.
My sleep was restless.
I was happy.
I talked less than usual.
I felt lonely.
People were unfriendly.
I enjoyed life.
During the Past Week: Rarely or none of the time
(less than 1 day) 		Some or little of the time
(1-2 days) 		Occasionally or a moderate amount of time
(3-4 days) 		Most or all of the time
(5-7 days)
I had crying spells.
I felt sad.
I felt people disliked me.
I could not get "going".


SLS

Below are five statements that you may agree or disagree with. Using the 1 - 7 scale below indicate your agreement with each item by placing the appropriate number on the line preceding that item. Please be open and honest in your responding.

Strongly Agree Agree Slightly agree Neither agree nor disagree Slightly disagree Disagree Strongly disagree
In most ways my life is close to my ideal.
The conditions of my life are excellent.
I am satisfied with my life.
So far I have gotten the important things I want in life.
If I could live my life over, I would change almost nothing.


General Information

How did you hear about this study?

listserve
link from an online social networking site or another webiste:
craigslist city:
web search
from a friend
Other

Age

Gender

Female Male Transgender

What ethnic/racial/cultural, and/or national background do you most identify with?

In what country did you spend most of your youth?

How would you describe the area where you grew up?



If other, please describe:

How long did you live there? (in years)

In what country do you currently live?

How would you describe the area where you currently live?



If other, please describe:

How long have you lived there? (In years)

Where would you place your parents on the following spectrum for social class?

If financially independent, where would you place yourself on the following spectrum for social class? If you are not financially independent, please select the 'Not financially independent' option.

What is the highest level of formal education your mother or father (whichever is the highest) has completed?

What is the highest level of formal education you have completed?

What is your religious background, i.e. what religion did you grow up with?

Which religion do you identify with currently?

What is your current relationship status? (please check the one that applies best to you)

If you have children, indicate how many.

Do you plan to have children in the future?

Yes No


Thank you for taking the time to complete this survey.

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