(PS7-B38) Parental Status as a Risk for Combat-ptsd and Depression in Women and Men Military Service Members

It is well-known that pre, peri, and post trauma risk factors increase the probability of military service members and veterans developing PTSD following combat exposure (Xhu et al., 2015). Interestingly, findings suggest marital status (being married) at the time of combat exposure is associated with increased risk for PTSD, but the literature is virtually silent on whether being a parent at the time of combat exposure increases the probability of PTSD. Parental separation from children is stressful and associated with detrimental effects (Kelly et al., 1994) and could also represent a risk factor for PTSD in military parents. The lack of research investigating parental status at the time of combat exposure represents a substantial gap in the literature given that numerous studies have documented deleterious effects of parents’ combat-related PTSD on their relationships with their children (Kritikos et al., 2019). In this investigation, we assessed if parental status was associated with increased risk of PTSD and depression in military service members immediately post deployment from Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Participants’ data was drawn from a database of soldiers receiving reintegration education and counseling services after returning from combat in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. A total of 7015 soldiers formed the sample for this study. The soldiers ranged in age from 18-62 years of age (M = 27.7). Approximately 90% of the participants were men and 10% were women. Participants completed the Screen for Posttraumatic Stress Symptoms (SPTSS, Carlson, 2012). The SPTSS is a brief, self-report screening measure for symptoms of posttraumatic stress. Participants also completed the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale (CES-D; Radloff, 1977). The CES-D is a short, self-report scale which is commonly used to assess depressive symptoms.

The data were analyzed using two 2 (gender) x 2 (parental status) ANOVAs. The interaction of gender and parental status on SPTSS scores was not significant, F(1,7011) = 3.339, p = .068. Likewise, the main effect of parental status was not significant, F(1,7011) = .267, p =.605, but the main effect for gender was F(1,7011) = 18.264, p < .001. SPTSS scores were higher for women (M = 3.124) than for men (M = 2.741). For the analysis of CES-D data, only data for 6,948 participants was available. The interaction of gender and parental status on CES-D scores was not significant, F(1,6944) = 3.221, p = .073. Though there was no main effect of parental status, F(1,6944) = .434, p = .510, the main effect for gender was statistically significant, F(1,6944) = 18.014, p < .001. CES-D scores were higher for women (M = 16.25) than for men (M = 13.76). Results will be discussed in light of women military service members’ higher risk for PTSD and depression and the effect of having children during military service deployment.