Many studies have found that Veterans and their family members have experienced more mental health disorders and substance use. The purpose of this study compared mental health and substance use risk indicators between U.S. military Veteran and non-Veteran- connected families, so earlier and more targeted interventions can be developed.
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Showing library results for: February 2023
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A comparison of mental health and substance use risk factors between veteran and non-veteran connected families in Nebraska, 2016 and 2019
APA Citation:
Palm, D., Lamsal, R., Pacino, V., & Watanabe-Galloway, S. (2022). A comparison of mental health and substance use risk factors between veteran and non-veteran connected families in Nebraska, 2016 and 2019. Journal of Health Care and Research, 3(2), 41-50. https://doi.org/10.36502/2022/hcr.6210
Focus:
Mental health
Substance use
Veterans
Branch of Service:
Multiple branches
Military Affiliation:
Veteran
Population:
Young adulthood (18 - 29 yrs)
Adulthood (18 yrs & older)
Thirties (30 - 39 yrs)
Middle age (40 - 64 yrs)
Aged (65 yrs & older)
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Research & Summary
Palm, David; Lamsal, Rashmi; Pacino, Valerie; Watanabe-Galloway, Shinobu
2022
2 LGB service members’ relationship status, satisfaction, and well-being: A brief report
LGB service members’ relationship status, satisfaction, and well-being: A brief report
APA Citation:
Savarese, E. N., Collazo, J., & Evans, W. R. (2022). LGB service members' relationship status, satisfaction, and well-being: A brief report. Armed Forces & Society. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1177/0095327X2210984
Focus:
Couples
Mental health
Branch of Service:
Air Force
Army
Coast Guard
Marine Corps
Navy
Multiple branches
Military Affiliation:
Active Duty
Guard
Reserve
Population:
Young adulthood (18 - 29 yrs)
Adulthood (18 yrs & older)
Thirties (30 - 39 yrs)
Middle age (40 - 64 yrs)
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Research & Summary
Savarese, Elizabeth N.; Collazo, Jessica; Evans, Wyatt R.; Balsam, Kimberly F.
2022
Recently, the legal landscape for sexual minorities in the United States has changed dramatically, prompting empirical research on lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) couples and LGB service members. This study examined the relationship characteristics and mental health of LGB service members in couple relationships and compared partnered and single LGB service members. A total of 238 LGB service members completed an anonymous survey, including questions about demographics, identity, military experiences, and mental health symptoms. Results of descriptive and exploratory analyses revealed no significant differences in mental health between partnered and single participants. However, partnered individuals reported higher outness and lower internalized homophobia compared with their single counterparts. Analyses also revealed negative associations between relationship satisfaction and mental health symptoms among partnered participants. Among the first to examine LGB service members’ romantic relationships, the results of this study have important clinical and policy implications and inform next steps in researching this population.
Military adolescents' experiences of change and discontinuity: Associations with psychosocial factors and school success
APA Citation:
O'Neal, C. W., Peterson, C., & Mancini, J. A. (2022). Military adolescents' experiences of change and discontinuity: Associations with psychosocial factors and school success. Family Relations. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1111/fare.12740
Focus:
Youth
Mental health
Deployment
Branch of Service:
Army
Military Affiliation:
Active Duty
Population:
Adolescence (13 - 17 yrs)
Childhood (birth - 12 yrs)
School age (6 - 12 yrs)
Young adulthood (18 - 29 yrs)
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Research & Summary
O'Neal, Catherine Walker; Peterson, Clairee; Mancini, Jay A.
2022
Objective Drawing from the contextual model of family stress, social support and depressive symptoms were examined as two psychosocial factors that may link experiences of change and discontinuity common to military families to military adolescents' school success (i.e., academic achievement, school engagement, and homework commitment). Background Many military adolescents experience frequent changes that create discontinuity (e.g., parental deployments, relocations) and can impact their school success. Research has not examined psychosocial factors as a possible mechanism explaining the link between family change and discontinuity and adolescents' school success. Method A path model based on 821 military adolescents' responses examined how experiences of family discontinuity were associated with adolescents' psychosocial factors and, in turn, their school success after accounting for grade level, sex, and racial/ethnic minority status. Indirect effects between family discontinuity and school success were also evaluated. Results For adolescents attending public school off the military installation, parental deployment was significantly associated with less social support, and recent relocation was significantly associated with elevated depressive symptoms. Both psychosocial factors were associated with adolescents' academic achievement, school engagement, and homework commitment. Implications Prevention and intervention efforts directed at enhancing both social support and positive mental health are discussed at various systemic levels including families, schools, and communities.
Veteran and romantic partner goals for family involvement in PTSD treatment: A qualitative study of dyads
APA Citation:
Rando, A. A., & Thompson-Hollands, J. (2022). Veteran and romantic partner goals for family involvement in PTSD treatment: A qualitative study of dyads. Couple and Family Psychology: Research and Practice, 11(3), 193–204. https://doi.org/10.1037/cfp0000229
Focus:
Veterans
Couples
Mental health
Branch of Service:
Multiple branches
Military Affiliation:
Veteran
Population:
Young adulthood (18 - 29 yrs)
Adulthood (18 yrs & older)
Thirties (30 - 39 yrs)
Middle age (40 - 64 yrs)
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Research & Summary
Rando, Alora A.; Thompson-Hollands, Johanna
2022
As part of a larger study of a family-inclusive intervention for veterans beginning treatment for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), we conducted individual semi-structured qualitative interviews with 20 veteran–romantic partner dyads. Topics included previous experiences with partner involvement in health care, goals for this episode of partner involvement, and any concerns about a partner-inclusive approach, as well as both participants’ understanding of the extent of the partner’s knowledge of PTSD and of the veteran’s traumatic experiences. Researchers analyzed interview data using a rapid analytic approach, identifying several common emerging themes across participants, as well as some notable but less common perspectives. Participants described a range of hopes and limited concerns regarding integration of the partner into the treatment program; areas of incongruity within dyads also emerged. Overall, veterans and their partners appear to be quite interested in family-inclusive interventions for PTSD and identified goals are largely psychoeducational and supportive in nature.
Changes in stigmatising beliefs and help-seeking intentions following a recreational peer-based program for young people affected by military associated parental mental illness
APA Citation:
Williams, V., Deane, F. P., Giles, C., & Knight, L. (2022). Changes in stigmatising beliefs and help-seeking intentions following a recreational peer-based program for young people affected by military associated parental mental illness. Journal of Military and Veterans' Health, 30(3). https://jmvh.org/article/changes-in-stigmatising-beliefs-and-help-seeking-intentions-following-a-recreational-peer-based-program-for-young-people-affected-by-military-associated-parental-mental-illness/
Focus:
Mental health
Youth
Programming
Branch of Service:
International Military
Multiple branches
Military Affiliation:
Active Duty
Population:
Childhood (birth - 12 yrs)
Adolescence (13 - 17 yrs)
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Research & Summary
Williams, Virginia; Deane, F. P.; Giles, C.; Knight, L.
2022
Children living in Defence families affected by parental mental illness face increased stressors, pressure for self-sufficiency and potential exposure to adverse outcomes, including future mental illness. Little is known about the impact of mental health early interventions on the help-seeking tendencies of military young people affected by parental mental illness. Similarly, the responsivity of this cohort to peer-based mental health literacy interventions aimed to dispel misconceptions and stigmatising beliefs about mental illness and help-seeking is not well understood. The current study measured key aspects of belief-related mental health knowledge and intentions to seek help from a range of formal and informal sources of 236 Australian young people aged 7-18 years, living with parents affected by military-associated mental health problems. Findings suggest that young people in the Defence community are most likely to seek help from their parents and show changes in beliefs about mental illness and intentions to seek help from some help sources following a brief (2-hour) group intervention. Help-seeking intentions from telephone helplines increased for the cohort, and males were more inclined to seek help from a friend after intervention.
6 Military-related relocation stress and psychological distress in military partners
Military-related relocation stress and psychological distress in military partners
APA Citation:
Ribeiro, S., Renshaw, K. D., & Allen, E. S. (2023). Military-related relocation stress and psychological distress in military partners. Journal of Family Psychology, 37(1), 45-53. https://doi.org/10.1037/fam0001030
Focus:
Couples
Mental health
Deployment
Branch of Service:
Army
Military Affiliation:
Active Duty
Population:
Young adulthood (18 - 29 yrs)
Adulthood (18 yrs & older)
Thirties (30 - 39 yrs)
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Research & Summary
Ribeiro, Sissi; Renshaw, Keith D.; Allen, Elizabeth S.
2023
Spouses/partners play a crucial role in providing support to military service members (SMs), maintaining a sense of stability for the family, and supporting the overall mission of the armed forces. However, several aspects of the military lifestyle may impact their own psychological health. Much research has focused on the role of SMs’ deployments and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms in partners’ distress, but no study has yet quantitatively investigated these factors in tandem with the common military life stressor of frequent relocations. The present study investigated the degree to which problems from service-related moves, couple deployment separation, and SMs’ PTSD symptoms uniquely predict partner psychological distress. Data were collected from female partners of Army soldiers who completed online surveys across four timepoints (over 1.5 years) following a deployment. Surveys assessed psychological distress, perceptions of SMs’ PTSD symptoms, problems from service-related moves, and deployment separation. Multilevel modeling was used, with longitudinal data treated as repeated measures (i.e., not modeling change over time). Results indicated that problems from service-related moves were associated with greater psychological stress, even when accounting for SMs’ PTSD symptoms and deployment separation. Deployment separation itself was not a significant predictor of psychological distress. Findings indicate that problems associated with frequent moves may be a significant contributor to increased psychological distress for partners above and beyond challenges associated with SMs’ PTSD symptoms. Recommendations for future research and limitations are also provided.
7 “Always on parade”: Pregnancy experience of active-duty air force members
“Always on parade”: Pregnancy experience of active-duty air force members
APA Citation:
Day, M. A., Gil-Rivas, V., & Quinlan, M. M. (2023). “Always on parade”: Pregnancy experience of active-duty air force members. American Journal of Orthopsychiatry, 93(1), 41-49. https://doi.org/10.1037/ort0000654
Focus:
Physical health
Parents
Branch of Service:
Air Force
Military Affiliation:
Active Duty
Population:
Young adulthood (18 - 29 yrs)
Adulthood (18 yrs & older)
Thirties (30 - 39 yrs)
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Research & Summary
Day, M. A.; Gil-Rivas, Virginia; Quinlan, Margaret M.
2023
Findings are reported from a qualitative study that sought to understand the maternity experience of active-duty women in the context of improved and expanded pregnancy accommodations. Semistructured interviews were conducted with 30 active-duty women serving in the United States Air Force (15 enlisted and 15 commissioned members). Women described experiencing negative pregnancy-related stereotypes and stigma in the workplace. Connotations unique to military culture were unavoidable changes to uniform and physical body shape, cultural expectations of fitness, and uniformity of dress/appearance. Use of necessary pregnancy accommodations led to increased exposure to stereotypes and stigma, such as being perceived as less disciplined, lazy, weak, or receiving unfair advantages/fewer duties at work. Women relied on “covering behaviors” to separate themselves from negative stereotypes. Extreme covering behaviors put pregnant women’s health and well-being at risk. Finally, women navigated a shift in priorities from an indoctrinated “service before self” perspective to a prioritization of personal health and well-being during pregnancy. Leadership skills were strengthened through this change in perspective, which were perceived as positively influencing unit morale, cohesion, productivity, and retention. Study findings suggest the military will experience limited success in fully integrating and retaining active-duty women due to an organizational climate that lags behind the recent, progressive improvements in pregnancy policies and accommodations. Organizational culture related to pregnancy within the military must be targeted for change to reduce negative stigma and pregnancy-related bias.
The role of PTSD symptom severity and relationship functioning in male and female veterans’ mental health service use
APA Citation:
Harper, K. L., Vogt, D., Fox, A., Nillni, Y. I., & Galovski, T. (2022). The role of PTSD symptom severity and relationship functioning in male and female veterans’ mental health service use. Psychological Trauma: Theory, Research, Practice, and Policy. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1037/tra0001369
Focus:
Couples
Veterans
Mental health
Branch of Service:
Multiple branches
Military Affiliation:
Veteran
Population:
Young adulthood (18 - 29 yrs)
Adulthood (18 yrs & older)
Thirties (30 - 39 yrs)
Middle age (40 - 64 yrs)
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Research & Summary
Harper, Kelly L.; Vogt, Dawne; Fox, Annie; Nillni, Yael I.; Galovski, Tara
2022
Objective: Previous research has shown that difficulties in intimate relationships promote mental health treatment seeking for male veterans, but findings for female veterans have been mixed. The current study sought to further evaluate whether intimate relationship functioning is a motivator for mental health treatment seeking for male and female veterans and examine the impact of different types of trauma exposure on this association. Method: Using data from a longitudinal study, we examined whether intimate relationship functioning mediated the association between posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptom severity and mental health service use (0 = no mental health services, 1 = any mental health services) in male and female veterans (N = 1,200). We used multiple groups path analysis to examine whether intimate relationship functioning mediated the association between PTSD symptom severity and mental health service use for male and female veterans. Results: For male veterans, greater PTSD symptom severity was related to poorer intimate relationship functioning, which in turn explained increased likelihood of mental health service use (R² = .18). This mediation effect was not significant for female veterans. Conclusions: Our findings suggest that targeting intimate relationship functioning in treatment for male veterans may be beneficial because difficulties in these relationships appear to be a motivating factor for treatment seeking.
Sexual violence in military service members/veterans individual and interpersonal outcomes associated with single and multiple exposures to civilian and military sexual violence
APA Citation:
Blais, R. K., Livingston, W. S., Barrett, T. S., & Tannahill, H. S. (2023). Sexual violence in military service members/veterans individual and interpersonal outcomes associated with single and multiple exposures to civilian and military sexual violence. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 38(3-4), 2585-2613. https://doi.org/10.1177/08862605221101197
Focus:
Trauma
Mental health
Physical health
Branch of Service:
Multiple branches
Military Affiliation:
Active Duty
Veteran
Population:
Young adulthood (18 - 29 yrs)
Adulthood (18 yrs & older)
Thirties (30 - 39 yrs)
Middle age (40 - 64 yrs)
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Research & Summary
Blais, Rebecca K.; Livingston, Whitney S.; Barrett, Tyson S.; Tannahill, Hallie S.
2023
Sexual harassment and violence is a grave public health concern and risk for revictimization increases following initial exposure. Studies of sexual revictimization in military samples are generally limited to women and are focused on rates of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), with no examination of how revictimization relates to interpersonal outcomes, such as relationship or sexual satisfaction. The current study addressed these gaps in a sample of 833 women and 556 men service members/veterans. Self-reported outcomes of PTSD, depression, suicidal ideation, sexual function, and relationship satisfaction were compared across those reporting exposure to sexual harassment and violence before the military only (i.e., pre-military), during the military only (i.e., military sexual harassment and violence [MSV]), before and during the military (i.e., revictimization), and to no exposure. More than half of women (51.14%, n = 426) reported revictimization and only 5.79% (n = 28) of men reported revictimization. Among women, those reporting MSV or revictimization tended to report higher PTSD, depression, and suicidal ideation relative to pre-military sexual violence and no sexual violence exposure. No interpersonal outcomes were significantly different among these sexual violence groups. Among men, revictimization was associated with higher PTSD, depression, and sexual compulsivity. PTSD and depression were also higher among those reporting MSV only. No effects were found for premilitary sexual trauma exposure only or relationship satisfaction for either group. Findings highlight the particularly bothersome nature of MSV, whether it occurred alone or in tandem with premilitary sexual violence. Findings also show unique gender differences across outcomes, suggesting interventions following sexual harassment and violence may differ for men and women.
Recent stressful experiences and suicide risk: Implications for suicide prevention and intervention in U.S. Army soldiers
APA Citation:
Dempsey, C. L., Benedek, D. M., Zuromski, K. L., Nock, M. K., Brent, D. A., Ao, J., Georg, M. W., Haller, K., Aliaga, P. A., Heeringa, S. G., Kessler, R. C., Stein, M. B., & Ursano, R. J. (2023). Recent stressful experiences and suicide risk: Implications for suicide prevention and intervention in U.S. Army soldiers. Psychiatric Research and Clinical Practice, 5(1), 24-36. https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.prcp.20220027
Focus:
Mental health
Trauma
Other
Branch of Service:
Army
Military Affiliation:
Active Duty
Population:
Adulthood (18 yrs & older)
Young adulthood (18 - 29 yrs)
Thirties (30 - 39 yrs)
Middle age (40 - 64 yrs)
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Research & Summary
Dempsey, Catherine L.; Benedek, David M.; Zuromski, Kelly L.; Nock, Matthew K.; Brent, David A.; Ao, Jingning; Georg, Matthew W.; Haller, Katy; Aliaga, Pablo A.; Heeringa, Steven G.; Kessler, Ronald C.; Stein, Murray B.; Ursano, Robert J.
2023
Objectives To identify the extent to which the presence of recent stressful events are risk factors for suicide among active‐duty soldiers as reported by informants. Methods Next‐of‐kin (NOK) and supervisors (SUP) of active duty soldiers (n = 135) who died by suicide and two groups of living controls: propensity‐matched (n = 128) and soldiers who reported suicidal ideation in the past year, but did not die (SI) (n = 108) provided data via structured interviews from the Study to Assess Risk and Resilience in Servicemembers (Army STARRS). Multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to create a risk score for suicide. Results The odds of suicide increased significantly for soldiers experiencing relationship problems, military punishment, and perceived failure or humiliation in the month prior to death. Suicide risk models with these risk factors predicted suicide death among those who reported SI in the past year (OR = 5.9, [95% CI = 1.5, 24.0] χ2 = 6.24, p = 0.0125, AUC, 0.73 (0.7, 0.8) NOK) and (OR = 8.6, [95% CI = 1.4, 51.5] χ2 = 5.49, p = 0.0191, AUC, 0.78 (0.7, 0.8); SUP) suggesting the combination of these recent stressors may contribute to the transition from ideation to action. Conclusions Our findings suggest for the first time recent stressors distinguished suicide ideating controls from suicide decedents in the month prior to death as reported by informants. Implications for preventive intervention efforts for clinicians, supervisors and family members in identifying the transition from ideation to action are discussed.
Impact of respite care on perceived stress, anxiety, and depression symptoms in military parents with a child on the autism spectrum
APA Citation:
Christi, R. A., Roy, D., Heung, R., & Flake, E. (2022). Impact of respite care services availability on stress, anxiety and depression in military parents who have a child on the autism spectrum. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 149(1), Article 970. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-022-05704-x
Focus:
Mental health
Branch of Service:
Multiple branches
Military Affiliation:
Active Duty
Population:
Childhood (birth - 12 yrs)
Adolescence (13 - 17 yrs)
Adulthood (18 yrs & older)
Young adulthood (18 - 29 yrs)
Thirties (30 - 39 yrs)
Middle age (40 - 64 yrs)
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Research & Summary
Christi, Rebecca A.; Roy, Daniel S.; Flake, Eric
2022
Background: Parents raising an autistic child face unique stressors that negatively impact family quality of life. As the prevalence of autism in the United States rises, finding support resources for these families is critical. While shown to benefit these families; respite studies to date are largely qualitative and none focus on military families with an autistic child. This pilot study was designed to measure the impact of respite care services on parental stress and symptoms of anxiety and depression. Methods: This was an anonymous survey-based study of active duty families with a child with autism receiving care at military medical facilities in the Pacific Northwest. Families completed three surveys between January-September 2020: a demographic survey, the Perceived Stress Scale-10 (PSS-10), and the Patient Health Questionnaire-4 (PHQ-4). PSS-10 and PHQ-4 scores were dependent (outcome) variables for data analysis. Ten demographic (independent) variables were identified as potentially confounding variables. Chi-square test determined statistical significance between presence of respite care services and demographic variables. A regression analysis utilizing standardized beta coefficients calculated the strength of effect of each independent variable on the outcome variables. Results: A total of 119 survey packets were collected. Only 22.7% of parents reported receiving respite care services. Families whose children had a comorbid diagnosis were less likely to receive respite care (89% vs 63%, p>0.001). Caucasian and Asian/Pacific families were more likely to receive respite services (p=0.0410). Advanced education and higher military rank predicted greater likelihood of receiving respite care (p=0.006). After adjusting for confounding demographic variables, it was calculated that PSS-10 (se: 2.41; p=0.01) and PHQ-4 (se: 0.98; p=0.017) scores were lower in families receiving respite care services. Conclusion: In our study, parents receiving respite care reported fewer symptoms of stress, anxiety and depression. This highlights respite care as a vital resource. Study results also suggest that social determinants of health can impact parental awareness and utilization of respite care resources. The study is limited by its small sample size. Future studies are needed to confirm the impact of respite services on parental stress and anxiety/depression symptoms in this group and whether these findings extend to the general population.
The ADAPT parenting intervention benefits combat exposed fathers genetically susceptible to problem drinking
APA Citation:
DeGarmo, D. S., Gewirtz, A. H., Li, L., Tavalire, H. F., & Cicchetti, D. (2023). The ADAPT parenting intervention benefits combat exposed fathers genetically susceptible to problem drinking. Prevention Science, 24, 150-160. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11121-022-01424-x
Focus:
Substance use
Parents
Programming
Deployment
Branch of Service:
Multiple branches
Military Affiliation:
Active Duty
Population:
Young adulthood (18 - 29 yrs)
Adulthood (18 yrs & older)
Thirties (30 - 39 yrs)
Middle age (40 - 64 yrs)
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Research & Summary
DeGarmo, David S.; Gewirtz, Abigail H.; Li, Lijun; Tavalire, Hannah F.; Cicchetti, Dante
2023
Testing a vantage sensitivity model from differential susceptibility theory (DST), we examined a G × E × I hypothesis; that is, whether a military parenting intervention program (I) might buffer a G × E susceptibility for military deployed fathers exposed to deployment combat stress and trauma. We hypothesized that combat stress (E, referring to the natural environmental factor) would lead to increases in problem drinking, and that the effect of problem drinking would be amplified by genetic predisposition (G) for drinking reward systems, substance use, and addictive behaviors (i.e., differential vulnerability). Providing a preventive intervention designed to improve post-deployment family environments (I, vantage sensitivity) is hypothesized to buffer the negative impacts of combat exposure and genetic susceptibility. The sample included 185 post-deployed military fathers who consented to genotyping, from a larger sample of 294 fathers enrolled in a randomized effectiveness trial of the After Deployment Adaptive Parenting Tools (ADAPT) intervention. Trauma-exposed military fathers at genetic susceptibility for problem drinking assigned to the ADAPT intervention reported significantly more reductions in risky drinking compared with fathers at genetic susceptibility assigned to the control group, with a small effect size for the G × E × I interaction (d = .2).
