Although empirical studies have documented associations between posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSS) and parenting among various high-risk populations, there is a relatively limited amount of research on paternal parenting among veterans. Moreover, the understanding of possible mechanisms which may account for this effect is severely lacking. This study examined associations between military related PTSS and parenting sense of competence (PSOC) among veteran fathers. Furthermore, we examined the mediating role of experiential avoidance (EA) and parental reflective functioning (PRF) in the association between PTSS and PSOC. Participants were 189 Israel Defense Forces (IDF) male combat veterans (mean age = 30.03) who completed a set of validated self-report questionnaires in a cross-sectional design study. Results showed negative associations between PTSS and PSOC-parental satisfaction but not parental efficacy. Furthermore, EA mediated the association between PTSS and parental satisfaction and efficacy; PRF- Pre mentalizing modes mediated the association between PTSS and parental satisfaction. Our findings imply that EA and PRF may serve as mechanisms of the association between PTSS and PSOC among veteran fathers. These findings are discussed in light of a psychological trauma perspective, and clinical implications to increase fathers’ mentalization and psychological flexibility are suggested.

尽管实证研究记录了各种高危人群中创伤后应激症状 (PTSS) 与养育子女之间的关联，但关于退伍军人父亲养育子女的研究相对有限。此外，严重缺乏对可能解释这种影响的可能机制的理解。本研究调查了退伍军人父亲中与军事相关的 PTSS 与养育能力 (PSOC) 之间的关联。此外，我们研究了体验回避 (EA) 和父母反思功能 (PRF) 在 PTSS 和 PSOC 之间的关联中的中介作用。参与者是 189 名以色列国防军 (IDF) 男性退伍军人（平均年龄 = 30.03），他们在横断面设计研究中完成了一组经过验证的自我报告问卷。结果显示 PTSS 与 PSOC 父母满意度之间存在负相关，但与父母效能无关。此外，EA 介导了 PTSS 与父母满意度和效能之间的关联；PRF-预心智化模式介导了 PTSS 与父母满意度之间的关联。我们的研究结果表明，EA 和 PRF 可能是退伍军人父亲 PTSS 和 PSOC 之间关联的机制。从心理创伤的角度讨论了这些发现，并提出了提高父亲心智化和心理灵活性的临床意义。我们的研究结果表明，EA 和 PRF 可能是退伍军人父亲 PTSS 和 PSOC 之间关联的机制。从心理创伤的角度讨论了这些发现，并提出了提高父亲心智化和心理灵活性的临床意义。我们的研究结果表明，EA 和 PRF 可能是退伍军人父亲 PTSS 和 PSOC 之间关联的机制。从心理创伤的角度讨论了这些发现，并提出了提高父亲心智化和心理灵活性的临床意义。