Juliette McClendon1, Daniel Perkins2, Laurel A Copeland3, Erin P Finley4, Dawne Vogt5. 1. National Center for PTSD (116B-3), Women's Health Sciences Division, VA Boston Healthcare System, 150 S. Huntington Avenue, Boston, MA, USA; Department of Psychiatry, Boston University School of Medicine, 720 Harrison Avenue, Boston, MA, USA. Electronic address: Juliette.mcclendon-iacovino@va.gov. 2. Clearinghouse for Military Family Readiness, The Pennsylvania State University, 311 South Allen Street, Suite 002, State College, PA, USA; Department of Agricultural Economics, Sociology, and Education, The Pennsylvania State University, 107 Ferguson Building, University Park, PA, USA; Social Science Research Institute, The Pennsylvania State University, 114 Henderson Building, University Park, PA, USA. Electronic address: dfp102@psu.edu. 3. VA Central Western Massachusetts Healthcare System, 421 N Main Street, Leeds, MA, USA; Department of Population and Quantitative Health Sciences, University of Massachusetts Medical School, 368 Plantation Street, The Albert Sherman Center, Worcester, MA, USA. Electronic address: LaurelACopeland@gmail.com. 4. Veterans Evidence-based Research Dissemination and Implementation Center, South Texas Veterans Health Care System, 7400 Merton Minter Blvd, San Antonio, TX, USA; Departments of Medicine and Psychiatry, UT Health San Antonio, 7703 Floyd Curl Drive, San Antonio, TX, USA. Electronic address: erin.finley@va.gov. 5. National Center for PTSD (116B-3), Women's Health Sciences Division, VA Boston Healthcare System, 150 S. Huntington Avenue, Boston, MA, USA; Department of Psychiatry, Boston University School of Medicine, 720 Harrison Avenue, Boston, MA, USA. Electronic address: dawne.vogt@va.gov.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Despite the high prevalence of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among military veterans, there is a lack of knowledge about racial/ethnic differences. The current study describes patterns and correlates of PTSD screening across race/ethnicity and gender in a sample of 9420 veterans recently separated from the military. Veterans who identified as White (n = 6222), Hispanic/Latinx (n = 1313), Black (n = 1027), Asian/Hawaiian/Pacific Islander (n = 420) and multiracial (n = 438) were included. METHOD: Trauma exposure and PTSD were assessed with the Primary Care PTSD Screen for DSM-5. Contextual factors examined included the intensity of ongoing stressful events, perceived social support, and sociodemographic variables (e.g., income). Weighted analyses were conducted to account for differential sample response rates. Regression analyses examining correlates of racial/ethnic differences in PTSD screening were stratified by gender. RESULTS: Among men and women, positive PTSD screening rates were significantly elevated among Black, multiracial, and Hispanic/Latinx veterans compared with White veterans. Sociodemographics, trauma exposure, stress and social support accounted for elevated positive screening rates among all racial/ethnic groups except Black men and multiracial women. CONCLUSIONS: Findings suggest that Black, Hispanic/Latinx and multiracial veterans may be at higher risk for PTSD shortly following separation from the military. Contextual factors examined explain the excess risk among some, but not all, subgroups. Further specifying disparities in PTSD diagnostic rates and risk factors will enable targeted and tailored intervention among veteran subgroups. Published by Elsevier Ltd.
BACKGROUND: Despite the high prevalence of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among military veterans, there is a lack of knowledge about racial/ethnic differences. The current study describes patterns and correlates of PTSD screening across race/ethnicity and gender in a sample of 9420 veterans recently separated from the military. Veterans who identified as White (n = 6222), Hispanic/Latinx (n = 1313), Black (n = 1027), Asian/Hawaiian/Pacific Islander (n = 420) and multiracial (n = 438) were included. METHOD:Trauma exposure and PTSD were assessed with the Primary Care PTSD Screen for DSM-5. Contextual factors examined included the intensity of ongoing stressful events, perceived social support, and sociodemographic variables (e.g., income). Weighted analyses were conducted to account for differential sample response rates. Regression analyses examining correlates of racial/ethnic differences in PTSD screening were stratified by gender. RESULTS: Among men and women, positive PTSD screening rates were significantly elevated among Black, multiracial, and Hispanic/Latinx veterans compared with White veterans. Sociodemographics, trauma exposure, stress and social support accounted for elevated positive screening rates among all racial/ethnic groups except Black men and multiracial women. CONCLUSIONS: Findings suggest that Black, Hispanic/Latinx and multiracial veterans may be at higher risk for PTSD shortly following separation from the military. Contextual factors examined explain the excess risk among some, but not all, subgroups. Further specifying disparities in PTSD diagnostic rates and risk factors will enable targeted and tailored intervention among veteran subgroups. Published by Elsevier Ltd.
Entities:
Keywords:
Disparities; Posttraumatic stress disorder; Race and ethnicity; Social support; Stress; Trauma
Authors: John R Blosnich; Michelle M Hilgeman; Yasmin S Cypel; Fatema Z Akhtar; Dennis Fried; Erick K Ishii; Aaron Schneiderman; Victoria J Davey Journal: Psychol Trauma Date: 2021-06-17
Authors: Delisa G Brown; Julianne C Flanagan; Amber Jarnecke; Therese K Killeen; Sudie E Back Journal: J Ethn Subst Abuse Date: 2020-10-28 Impact factor: 1.331