RISK AND PROTECTIVE FACTORS AGAINST PTSD IN PORTUGUESE PEACEKEEPERS: A QUALITATIVE STUDY PROTOCOL

Resumo

Peacekeepers often face physical and psychological stressors that can lead to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). However, not all develop PTSD, and the factors influencing this variability remain unclear. Objective: Guided by the Conservation of Resources theory, this qualitative study explores risk and protective factors influencing peacekeepers’ experiences of potentially traumatic events during deployment, which may contribute to PTSD. Methods: Semi-structured interviews are being conducted with 32 Portuguese Defense Forces peacekeepers deployed to Bosnia (1996; 2006-2007), Afghanistan (2008; 2014), the Central African Republic (2017; 2019) and Romania (2022; 2023-2024). These missions were selected for their diverse geographical, socio-political, and operational contexts, offering a broad spectrum of experiences for analysis. They also reflect key phases in Portuguese peacekeeping, capturing evolving challenges. Additionally, they encompass varying stressors, from post-conflict stabilization (Bosnia) to counterinsurgency (Afghanistan), peace enforcement (Central African Republic) and training missions (Romania), making them relevant to PTSD research. The study received ethical approval from the University of Lisbon’s Research Ethics Committee. The interview schedule, comprising open-ended questions, was reviewed by the Portuguese Army Applied Psychology Center and piloted with two Army members. Interviews are being conducted via Google Meet, recorded with OBS Studio, and transcribed verbatim. Thematic analysis using NVivo (v12) is being used to identify risk and protective factors. Preliminary Results: sixteen interviews with peacekeepers deployed to Bosnia and Romania revealed key protective factors against PTSD, including social support, military values, preparation, personal fulfillment, and adaptive coping strategies. Identified risk factors included adverse operational conditions, separation from home, strained relationships, and maladaptive coping mechanisms. Findings enhance understanding of PTSD in peacekeeping, support the development of an instrument to analyze risk and protective factors, and inform evidence-based recommendations for deployed personnel’s mental health.