Assessment of Psychological Distress in Persian Gulf Troops: Ethnicity and Gender Comparisons

Citation:

Sutker, Patricia B., John Mark Davis, Madeline Uddo, Shelly R. Ditta. 1995. "Assessment of Psychological Distress in Persian Gulf Troops: Ethnicity and Gender Comparisons." Journal of Personality Assessment 64 (3): 415-27.

Authors: Patricia B. Sutker, John Mark Davis, Madeline Uddo, Shelly R. Ditta

Abstract:

This study reports results of psychological assessment among military participants in Operation Desert Storm, a more diverse ethnic and gender mix of American troops than has been mobilized for previous military operations. Symptoms of current psychological distress, including negative mood states, somatic complaints, and posttraumatic stress disorder, in addition to personal and trauma characteristics, were measured in 653 Persian Gulf war-zone-exposed and 259 stateside-duty troops to test the hypothesis that ethnic minority status and female gender are associated with greater levels of psychological distress following war-zone duty. Findings point to potentially negative sequelae to war-zone stress in a portion of troops and suggest that ethnic minorities, but not necessarily women, may be more vulnerable to psychological risk.

Keywords: mental health, posttraumatic stress disorder, female soldiers, male soldiers

Topics: Ethnicity, Gender, Women, Health, Mental Health, Trauma, Military Forces & Armed Groups Regions: Americas, North America Countries: United States of America

Year: 1995