Postpartum depression (PPD) affects nearly 1 in 8 mothers and has many negative implications. Studies show particular risk factors are linked with PPD. There are nearly 200,000 women serving in the U.S. Armed Forces, but little is known regarding PPD and active duty (AD) mothers.
An exploratory study of rates and psychosocial risk factors (e.g., prenatal anxiety and depression, low self-esteem life stress, etc.) of postpartum depression in the military was conducted at Wilford Hall Medical Center with active duty women Service members.
Background: Women are an integral part of Reserve and National Guard units and active duty armed forces of the United States. Deployment to conflict and war zones is a difficult experience for both soldiers and their families.
Female members of National Guard and Reserve units participated in semi-structured interviews exploring their postdeployment family reintegration experience.
Combat exposure is associated with increased rates of mental health problems such as post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, and anxiety when Soldiers return home.
U.S. Army Soldiers survey data was used to assess the relationship between combat experiences and risk-taking propensity and behaviors.
Children and adolescents of National Guard members who recently returned from deployment participated in the Passport Towards Success (PTS) program, which teaches youth strategies for effective coping, problem-solving, and emotional expression.
The association of service members' combat-related PTSD with partners' distress is weaker when spouses/partners believe that service members experienced more traumatic events during deployment.
Civilian wives married to U.S. Army Active Duty husbands completed questionnaires to explore the impact of attributions of their spouses' posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms and combat exposure on marital satisfaction.