War-related stressors as predictors of post-deployment health of Air Force women.

INTRODUCTION

Little is known about the effects of combat exposure on women's health after service in Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF). Our purpose was to describe the incidence and nature of physical heath symptoms reported by deployed women to identify problematic areas where early intervention or better surveillance might be directed.

METHODS

Using a random, stratified sample (theater vs. non-theater; parent vs. non-parent; and military component including active, guard, and reserve members) of 1,114 Air Force women, we provide descriptive statistics, group comparisons, and multiple regression models to identify health concerns and potential predictors of physical health outcomes.

RESULTS

Findings revealed that those in the reserve/guard forces (vs. active duty) and those in the theater of operations (vs. elsewhere during the same time period) reported greater physical health problems (β = -0.07, p < .05 and β = 0.11, p < .001, respectively). Enlisted women reported poorer general health than officers (β = 0.09, p < .01). Women were more likely to report that their physical health was impacted by OIF if deployed to the theater versus deployment elsewhere (β = 0.16, p < .001) or if they were in the reserve forces (β = -0.11, p < .001). Further, women who were parents or deployed to the theater reported greater interference of physical and emotional problems on their social functioning (β = 0.08, p < .05 and β = 0.08, p < .01, respectively).

CONCLUSION

Deployment to the theater of operations is significantly associated with physical health outcomes although the severity of the self-reported symptoms is low. Our findings suggest that further investigation is needed to explore the war-related predictors of health among women serving in deployed locations around the world.