Could War Veterans Be Also Victims? Mental Health Correlates of Self-Reported Victimhood Status Among Military Personnel in Colombia

There is a growing awareness regarding the potential mental health repercussions stemming from war-related trauma experienced by both civilians and veterans. However, the existing literature has thus far overlooked a crucial aspect: how observable psychological distress may or may not support claims of victimhood. To address this issue, we conducted an observational study of psychometric measures on a representative sample of 697 former Colombian Army combatants. Our aim was to investigate whether established mental health outcomes resulting from exposure to war, such as increased aggression, hypervigilance, and posttraumatic stress disorder, correlate with claims of victimhood. Our findings provide evidence that such claims can be substantiated by a tangible psychological foundation. The adoption of a public health perspective on victimization status should lead to a more inclusive public policy approach to addressing the needs of war-affected populations.