TY - JOUR
T1 - The mental health impact of COVID-19–related stressors among treatment-seeking trauma-exposed veterans
AU - McLean, Carmen P.
AU - Wachsman, Tamara
AU - Morland, Leslie
AU - Norman, Sonya B.
AU - Hooper, Vaughan
AU - Cloitre, Marylene
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2022 International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies.
PY - 2022/12
Y1 - 2022/12
N2 - 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.
AB - 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.
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U2 - 10.1002/jts.22874
DO - 10.1002/jts.22874
M3 - Article
C2 - 36065487
AN - SCOPUS:85138310376
SN - 0894-9867
VL - 35
SP - 1792
EP - 1800
JO - Journal of Traumatic Stress
JF - Journal of Traumatic Stress
IS - 6
ER -