Publication year
2012
Citation Title
Gender differences in traumatic experiences and mental health in active duty soldiers redeployed from Iraq and Afghanistan.
Journal Name
Journal of Psychiatric Research
Journal Volume
46
Issue Number
3
Page Numbers
311-316
DOI
10.1016/j.jpsychires.2011.11.007
Summary
Pre- and post-deployment data of Soldiers were utilized to examine possible gender differences in combat exposure, military sexual trauma (MST), and their associations with mental health outcomes (i.e., problem drinking, depression, posttraumatic stress disorder [PTSD]) of military personnel recently returned from deployment to Afghanistan or Iraq. Results indicate that gender influenced the relationship between combat exposure, MST, and mental health outcomes.
Key Findings
On average, men and women reported similar rates of PTSD symptoms; however, a stronger association existed between injury and PTSD symptoms for women than for men.
Women were more likely to report depressive symptoms than men. For both genders, injury, combat exposure and MST were significant predictors of depressive symptoms.
Women were significantly more likely to report MST; MST was a significant predictor of both PTSD and depression symptoms.
Men were more likely to report problem drinking and combat exposure was significantly associated with hazardous alcohol use for both genders.
Implications for Program Leaders
Offer support groups for male and female Service members returning from combat
Provide education to Service members regarding the occurrence of MST and its influence on depression and PTSD
Publicize information regarding common mental health issues associated with deployment and resource available to military families who are coping with these issues
Implications for Policy Makers
Promote the development of services specifically aimed at helping Service members cope with MST
Recommend professional development and continuing education opportunities for service providers about how combat injury may impact mental health, specifically in women
Encourage collaboration between the DoD and community organizations and programs to meet the needs of Service members returning from deployment
Methods
This study used data collected from mandatory pre- and post-deployment screenings conducted from 2006-2009.
Data for the current study were from a single Army medical treatment facility.
Active duty Service members who were deployed in support of OEF and OIF were compared on PTSD and depression symptoms, hazardous alcohol consumption, and MST.
Participants
Seven thousand two hundred fifty-one participants were included in this study and all were Active Duty Service members.
The participants included 554 women and 6,697 men, ranging from 17-53 years of age (mean = 25.7 years, SD = 6.1 years).
In terms of race/ethnicity, 64% of participants were White, 12% Black, 12% Latino/Latina, 5% Asian-American, and 7% were other.
Sixty-two percent of participants had a rank of E1-E4; 30% were E5-E9, and 9% were W1-W5/O1-O10.
Limitations
All participants were Soldiers from one treatment facility; therefore, results may not generalize to other locations or military branches.
Without a follow-up assessment, no evidence exists of long-term gender differences in mental health outcomes.
Age and length of time in the military were not considered in the analyses, both of which could affect responses to combat experiences.
Avenues for Future Research
Supplement self-report data with information gathered from other sources, such as clinician reports
Develop a more comprehensive measure to assess the occurrence of MST and further investigate its impact on mental health symptoms
Explore whether male and female Service members cope differently with combat experiences over time
Focus
Army
Target Population
Population Focus
Military Branch
Military Component
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to examine gender differences in combat exposure, military sexual trauma (MST), and their associations with mental health screen results among military personnel deployed in support of the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. Data were collected as part of a pre- and post-deployment screening program at a large Army medical treatment facility. Cases included 7251 active duty soldiers (6697 men and 554 women) who presented for their pre- and post-deployment screening from March 2006 to July 2009. Pre-deployment mental health symptoms were statistically controlled for in our analyses. We found significant gender differences in demographic variables, exposure to combat, and MST. Women reported greater exposure to MST than did men. Although men reported greater exposure to high-intensity combat experiences than women, results indicate that women are experiencing combat at higher rates than observed in prior cohorts. Men were more likely to report problem drinking, and women were more likely to report depression symptoms. There were no gender differences with respect to PTSD symptoms. Although we found few differences between women and men in the impact of combat stressors on mental health, there was a stronger association between injury and PTSD symptoms for women than for men. Our findings indicate that it would be useful for clinicians to be aware of this difference and assess for exposure to a full range of traumatic combat experiences, particularly injury, as not all types of combat experiences may be equally experienced by men and women returning from military deployments. The purpose of this study was to examine gender differences in combat exposure, military sexual trauma (MST), and their associations with mental health screen results among military personnel deployed in support of the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. Data were collected as part of a pre- and post-deployment screening program at a large Army medical treatment facility. Cases included 7251 active duty soldiers (6697 men and 554 women) who presented for their pre- and post-deployment screening from March 2006 to July 2009. Pre-deployment mental health symptoms were statistically controlled for in our analyses. We found significant gender differences in demographic variables, exposure to combat, and MST. Women reported greater exposure to MST than did men. Although men reported greater exposure to high-intensity combat experiences than women, results indicate that women are experiencing combat at higher rates than observed in prior cohorts. Men were more likely to report problem drinking, and women were more likely to report depression symptoms. There were no gender differences with respect to PTSD symptoms. Although we found few differences between women and men in the impact of combat stressors on mental health, there was a stronger association between injury and PTSD symptoms for women than for men. Our findings indicate that it would be useful for clinicians to be aware of this difference and assess for exposure to a full range of traumatic combat experiences, particularly injury, as not all types of combat experiences may be equally experienced by men and women returning from military deployments.
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