Gender Differences in Subjective Distress Attributable to Anticipation of Combat among US Army Soldiers Deployed to the Persian Gulf during Operation Desert Storm

Citation:

Rosen, Leora N., Kathleen Wright, David Marlowe, Paul Bartone, and Robert K. Gifford. 1999. "Gender Differences in Subjective Distress Attributable to Anticipation of Combat among U.S. Army Soldiers Deployed to the Persian Gulf during Operation Desert Storm." Military Medicine 164 (11): 753-757.

Authors: Leora N. Rosen, Kathleen Wright, David Marlowe, Paul Bartone, Robert K. Gifford

Abstract:

Compared the perceptions of stress, cohesion, and psychological well-being among army soldiers deployed to the Persian Gulf during Operation Desert Storm. 856 male and 169 female soldiers (mean age 26.3–28.9 yrs) across 48 combat support and combat service support companies were administered surveys on-site concerning anticipation of combat, operational stress, personal stress, and bonding with peers, leaders, and subordinates. Administered tests included the Brief Symptom Inventory (L. R. Derogatis and N. Melisaratos, 1983) and the Measure of Personality Hardiness (S. C. Kobasa, 1979). Results show that females scored higher than males on all 3 stress measures and scored lower in bonding with leaders and subordinates. Anticipation of combat was the most significant discriminator between sexes, and was a significant predictor of increased psychological symptoms for both sexes. Hardiness scores were similar for both sexes, but anticipation of combat had a greater effect on the psychological symptoms of females compared with males.

Keywords: female soldiers, mental health

Topics: Armed Conflict, Combatants, Female Combatants, Male Combatants, Gender, Women, Men, Health, Mental Health, Military Forces & Armed Groups, Militaries Regions: Americas, North America Countries: United States of America

Year: 1999