Publication year
2017
Citation Title
Gender differences in posttraumatic stress disorder among U.S. navy healthcare personnel.
Journal Name
Journal of Women's Health
Journal Volume
26
Page Numbers
338-344
DOI
10.1089/jwh.2014.5130
Summary
Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a prominent issue among Military personnel yet little is known about gender differences in PTSD. This study examined 667 women and 3,608 men U.S. Navy healthcare personnel who were assessed to identify for PTSD. Results showed that women had higher odds of screening positive for PTSD than men.
Key Findings
Compared to men, female healthcare personnel were more likely to screen positive for PTSD when demographics, psychiatric history, and deployment experiences are taken in to account.
Combat exposure was strongly associated with more PTSD.
Women have higher levels of emotional stress when caregiving for the traumatically wounded.
Implications for Program Leaders
Develop preventions and interventions that teach stress management skills aimed at female Service members
Offer support groups for families and military personnel who suffer from PTSD
Provide workshops for Service members with mental health symptoms on warning signs and where to seek help
Implications for Policy Makers
Continue to support programs that address the mental health needs of military personnel
Recommend awareness campaigns to educate military service providers on the higher odds for women to screen positive for PTSD
Encourage the development and continuation of programs that can promote positive mental health strategies for women in military healthcare positions
Methods
Participants were 4,275 Navy healthcare personnel who were screened for PTSD.
Data regarding participants' psychiatric history were gathered from inpatient and outpatient medical records.
Analyses were conducted by comparing demographic information and deployment variables for men and women.
Participants
The final study sample consisted of 667 female and 3,608 male participants who were Active Duty Navy healthcare personnel.
Participants were categorized into two groups, 18-24 years old and 25 years and older.
All participants were either deployed between one and 18 months to OIF/OEF, employed as a healthcare specialist per Department of Defense, and completed a Post-Deployment Health Assessment.
Limitations
This study examined Navy personnel only therefore, the results of this study may not be generalized to other branches of the military.
This study was not able to asses previous sexual trauma which is a predictor of PTSD among women. Therefore, this study was not able to determine the relationship between sexual trauma and PTSD in the population of healthcare personnel.
PTSD was not clinically diagnosed because it used a screening instrument which allowed it to be administered at the end of deployment or on the return home. This is limiting to the results as participants may or may not have PTSD without a formal diagnosis.
Avenues for Future Research
Examine a wider variety of stressors that may impact PTSD diagnosis and determine whether PTSD is associated with gender
Assess previous sexual trauma and assault among women as these are predictors of PTSD among women
Examine how the healthcare occupation as opposed to other occupations may affect psychological symptoms of service providers
Focus
Navy
Target Population
Population Focus
Military Branch
Military Component
Abstract
Background: The role of women in the U.S. military has changed markedly over the course of 20th- and 21stcentury conflicts. Although women frequently occupy healthcare positions in the military, little is known about gender differences in posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) within this occupational subgroup. Materials and Methods: A total of 4275 (667 women and 3608 men) U.S. Navy healthcare personnel supporting military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan were identified from electronic deployment records. Data from Post-Deployment Health Assessments were abstracted to identify PTSD screen positives, and to adjust for self-reported combat exposure and other deployment experiences. Results: The prevalence of PTSD screen positive in the sample was 8.2% (n=351/4275). After adjusting for combat exposure, previous psychiatric history, and demographics, women had significantly higher odds of screening positive for PTSD than did men (odds ratio=1.99, 95% confidence interval 1.34–2.96). Interactions between gender and combat exposure, and between gender and previous psychiatric history were not statistically significant. Conclusions: This is one of the first studies to examine gender differences in PTSD among military healthcare personnel. Future research should account for additional stressors, such as long work hours, disrupted sleep patterns, and number of casualties treated. As women are further integrated into military occupations that may lead to different exposures, knowledge of gender differences in the manifestation of PTSD is paramount for prevention and treatment purposes.
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