Publication year
2011
Citation Title
Coming home may hurt: Risk factors for mental ill health in US reservists after deployment in Iraq.
Journal Name
The British Journal of Psychiatry
Journal Volume
198
Issue Number
2
Page Numbers
136-142
DOI
10.1192/bjp.bp.110.084863
Summary
National Guard Soldiers may face post-deployment stressors affecting mental health that Active Duty Service members do not (e.g., job loss, lack of employer support, financial hardship, negative effects on co-workers). The effects of combat exposure and military and demographic characteristics on PTSD and depression were examined among National Guard Soldiers at 3 and 12 months post-deployment. Few Soldiers experienced stressors specific to the National Guard, but those that did were at greater risk for PTSD and depression at 3 and 12 months post-deployment.
Key Findings
Overall, rates of depression and PTSD increased between 3 and 12 months post-deployment, particularly among Soldiers who were younger and male.
More Soldiers screened positive for PTSD than depression; within all groups beside women and officers, reported PTSD rates were 20% or more.
Although only a minority of Soldiers reported experiencing difficulties specific to National Guard service at 12 months post-deployment, including financial hardship (20%), job loss (11%), lack of employer support (10%), and negative impacts on co-workers (18%), Soldiers that did experience any of those difficulties had much higher rates of depression and PTSD at both 3 and 12 months.
Implications for Program Leaders
Offer financial education programs and financial planning workshops for Service members, including National Guard members, and their families
Provide classes and resources to help National Guard members search for jobs, succeed in interviews, and find networking opportunities post-deployment
Disseminate information about the signs and symptoms of depression and PTSD, as well as where to get mental health support, among National Guard members and their families post-deployment
Implications for Policy Makers
Recommend education about potential financial and career difficulties of National Guard members post-deployment for professionals working with military families
Encourage collaboration with national businesses and companies to develop initiatives to increase hiring of Service members post-deployment
Promote the development of financial and career resources for Service members that can be utilized off-base (e.g., online courses, phone consultation, downloadable cellphone applications)
Methods
National Guard Soldiers who had been deployed in OEF/OIF once between 2005-2007 were recruited from two brigades via briefings while in garrison; the response rate was 63%.
Soldiers completed surveys regarding combat exposure, PTSD, depression, and military and demographic characteristics at 3 and 12 months post-deployment.
The impact of combat exposure and military and demographic characteristics on Soldiers' PTSD and depression rates at 3 and 12 months was examined.
Participants
Participants included 4,034 National Guard Soldiers who reported only one deployment to Iraq from 2005-2007.
Participants in the 3-month follow-up (n = 2539) were primarily 18-39 years of age (82%), male (95%), parents (55%), married (56%), and junior enlisted (53%) or non-commissioned officers (42%).
Participants in the 12-month follow-up (n = 1495) were primarily 18-39 years of age (80%), male (95%), parents (60%), married (60%), and junior enlisted (42%) or non-commissioned officers (50%).
No additional demographic information was provided.
Limitations
Both financial hardship and employer support of participants' military affiliation were assessed via unvalidated, single-item measures.
Without pre-deployment data regarding mental health or job status, it is unclear whether difficulties were related to deployment.
Several untested variables may have influenced results (e.g., family stress, social support, work environment).
Avenues for Future Research
Conduct a similar study using validated, multi-item measures of financial hardship and employer support, as well as including other measures of social support and stressors
Utilize a longitudinal study design to examine the direction of effects between deployment, mental health concerns, and financial and career difficulties post-deployment among National Guard Soldiers
Compare post-deployment difficulties and mental health among Active Duty and National Guard or Reserve Service members from all branches
Focus
Army
Target Population
Population Focus
Military Branch
Military Component
Abstract
Background: Little research has been conducted on the factors that may explain the higher rates of mental health problems in United States National Guard soldiers who have deployed to the Iraq War. Aims: To examine whether financial hardship, job loss, employer support and the effect of deployment absence on co-workers were associated with depression and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Method: Cross-sectional data were obtained from 4034 National Guard soldiers at two time points. All measures were assessed by self-report. Results: The four factors were associated with depression and PTSD, with variability based on outcome and time point. For example, job loss increased the odds of meeting criteria for depression at 3 and 12 months and for PTSD at 12 months; the negative effect of deployment absence on co-workers increased the likelihood of meeting criteria for PTSD, but not depression, at both time points. Conclusions: The findings demonstrate that National Guard soldiers have unique post-deployment social and material concerns that impair their mental health.
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