The mental health impact of COVID-19–related stressors among treatment-seeking trauma-exposed veterans

Carmen P. McLean, Tamara Wachsman, Leslie Morland, Sonya B. Norman, Vaughan Hooper, Marylene Cloitre

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Trauma-exposed veterans receiving mental health care may have an elevated risk of experiencing COVID-19–related difficulties. Using data from several ongoing clinical trials (N = 458), this study examined exposure to COVID-19–related stressors and their associations with key sociodemographic factors and mental health outcomes. The results showed that exposure to COVID-19–related stressors was common, higher among veterans who were racial/ethnic minorities d = 0.32, and associated with elevated posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), r =.288, and depressive symptom severity, r =.246. Women veterans experienced more difficulty accessing social support, d = 0.31, and higher levels of COVID-19–related distress, d = 0.31, than men. Qualitative data were consistent with survey findings and highlighted the broader societal context in veterans’ experience of COVID-19–related distress. These findings may inform future research on the impact of the pandemic on veterans, particularly those who are women and members of minoritized racial/ethnic groups, as well as mental health treatment planning for this population.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)1792-1800
Number of pages9
JournalJournal of Traumatic Stress
Volume35
Issue number6
DOIs
StatePublished - Dec 2022

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Clinical Psychology
  • Psychiatry and Mental health

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