Maria M Steenkamp1, Nida H Corry2, Meng Qian1, Meng Li1, Hope Seib McMaster3, John A Fairbank4, Valerie A Stander5, Laura Hollahan1, Charles R Marmar1. 1. New York University School of Medicine,, Steven and Alexandra Cohen Veterans Center for the Study of Post-Traumatic Stress and Traumatic Brain Injury, New York, USA, NY. 2. Abt Associates, Durham, NC, USA. 3. Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine, Bethesda, MD, USA. 4. Mid-Atlantic (VISN 6) Mental Illness Research, Education and Clinical Center (MIRECC), Durham VA Medical Center, and UCLA-Duke University National Center for Child Traumatic Stress (NCCTS), Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, USA. 5. Naval Health Research Center, San Diego, CA, USA.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Approximately half of US service members are married, equating to 1.1 million military spouses, yet the prevalence of psychiatric morbidity among military spouses remains understudied. We assessed the prevalence and correlates of eight mental health conditions in spouses of service members with 2-5 years of service. METHOD: We employed baseline data from the Millennium Cohort Family Study, a 21-year longitudinal survey following 9,872 military-affiliated married couples representing all US service branches and active duty, Reserve, and National Guard components. Couples were surveyed between 2011 and 2013, a period of high military operational activity associated with Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom. Primary outcomes included depression, anxiety, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), panic, alcohol misuse, insomnia, somatization, and binge eating, all assessed with validated self-report questionnaires. RESULTS: A total of 35.90% of military spouses met criteria for at least one psychiatric condition. The most commonly endorsed conditions were moderate-to-severe somatization symptoms (17.63%) and moderate-to-severe insomnia (15.65%). PTSD, anxiety, depression, panic, alcohol misuse, and binge eating were endorsed by 9.20%, 6.65%, 6.05%, 7.07%, 8.16%, and 5.23% of spouses, respectively. Having a partner who deployed with combat resulted in higher prevalence of anxiety, insomnia, and somatization. Spouses had lower prevalence of PTSD, alcohol misuse, and insomnia but higher rates of panic and binge eating than service members. Both members of a couple rarely endorsed having the same psychiatric problem. CONCLUSIONS: One third of junior military spouses screened positive for one or more psychiatric conditions, underscoring the need for high-quality prevention and treatment services.
BACKGROUND: Approximately half of US service members are married, equating to 1.1 million military spouses, yet the prevalence of psychiatric morbidity among military spouses remains understudied. We assessed the prevalence and correlates of eight mental health conditions in spouses of service members with 2-5 years of service. METHOD: We employed baseline data from the Millennium Cohort Family Study, a 21-year longitudinal survey following 9,872 military-affiliated married couples representing all US service branches and active duty, Reserve, and National Guard components. Couples were surveyed between 2011 and 2013, a period of high military operational activity associated with Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom. Primary outcomes included depression, anxiety, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), panic, alcohol misuse, insomnia, somatization, and binge eating, all assessed with validated self-report questionnaires. RESULTS: A total of 35.90% of military spouses met criteria for at least one psychiatric condition. The most commonly endorsed conditions were moderate-to-severe somatization symptoms (17.63%) and moderate-to-severe insomnia (15.65%). PTSD, anxiety, depression, panic, alcohol misuse, and binge eating were endorsed by 9.20%, 6.65%, 6.05%, 7.07%, 8.16%, and 5.23% of spouses, respectively. Having a partner who deployed with combat resulted in higher prevalence of anxiety, insomnia, and somatization. Spouses had lower prevalence of PTSD, alcohol misuse, and insomnia but higher rates of panic and binge eating than service members. Both members of a couple rarely endorsed having the same psychiatric problem. CONCLUSIONS: One third of junior military spouses screened positive for one or more psychiatric conditions, underscoring the need for high-quality prevention and treatment services.
Authors: Kristen H Walter; Cynthia A LeardMann; Carlos E Carballo; Hope Seib McMaster; Carrie J Donoho; Valerie A Stander Journal: J Trauma Stress Date: 2020-09-03
Authors: Marie-Louise Sharp; Noa Solomon; Virginia Harrison; Rachael Gribble; Heidi Cramm; Graham Pike; Nicola T Fear Journal: PLoS One Date: 2022-06-15 Impact factor: 3.752
Authors: Nida H Corry; Sharmini Radakrishnan; Christianna S Williams; Alicia C Sparks; Kelly A Woodall; John A Fairbank; Valerie A Stander Journal: BMC Public Health Date: 2019-11-12 Impact factor: 3.295