Reference:
Seelig, A. D., Jacobson, I. G., Smith, B., Hooper, T. I., Gackstetter, G. D., Ryan, M. A., Wells, T. S., MacDermid Wadsworth, S. M., & Smith, T. C. (2012). Prospective evaluation of mental health and deployment experience among women in the U.S. military. American Journal of Epidemiology, 176, 135-145. doi:10.1093/aje/kwr496
Summary:
Previous research has shown that military women often experience potentially severe health outcomes following deployment. Using data from the Millennium Cohort Study, the authors examined positive screens for depression, anxiety, panic and PTSD in relation to deployment in support of the operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. Women who deployed and reported combat-related exposures were more likely than nondeployed women of reporting symptoms of a mental health condition, after adjustment for demographic, military, and behavioral covariates. In addition, higher stress, problem drinking and a history of mental illness were significantly associated with increased risk of later mental health conditions. In contrast, women in the Reserves or National Guard and those with higher education were at decreased risk of mental health conditions.