Deployment characteristics and long‐term PTSD symptoms

Abstract

In addition to combat exposure, time between deployments warrants clinical attention as an important deployment characteristic for predicting long-term PTSD symptoms.

A question of time? Deployments, dwell time, and work-life balance for military personnel in Scandinavia

“…For instance, MacGregor and his colleagues have pointed to links between shorter dwell times between deployments and increased prevalence of PTSD and mental health referrals among US Marine Corps personnel (MacGregor et al, 2012 , 2014 ). Similar results have been found in longitudinal studies in the US, as well as in studies on the relationship between deviations from deployment and dwell time guidelines and mental health problems in British military personnel (Morissette et al, 2018 ; Rona et al, 2014 ).…”

“…Such “spillover” (which may be caused by both organizational and individual factors) clearly impacts others at home, including children and partners. The authors underscore the importance of adherence to clear and well-known guidelines for deployment and dwell time (organizational factors) to prevent negative consequences for deployed personnel and their families (see, also Morissette et al, 2018; Sayer et al, 2014 ; Sigelman et al, 2018 ).…”

“…In research, attention to the impact of time-related variables such as D2D ratios and deployment length on the health and well-being of military personnel has increased since around 2010, although the number of studies in this area are still limited (MacGregor et al, 2012 ; Morissette et al, 2018 ; Ursano et al, 2018 ). Many studies focus on mental health outcomes in particular populations and analyze the relationship between deployments, dwell time and severe problems such as PTSD, depression, anxiety or suicidal ideation.…”

“…Research and public inquiries have done much to increase our knowledge about the impact of military deployment on veterans’ health and performance, and several steps have been taken to improve both screening and treatment. At the same time, it is also clear that some aspects – including the impact of time-related factors such as dwell or respite time or multiple deployments – need further attention, as there is evidence to indicate a relationship between time factors, deployments and the health and well-being of military personnel (see, e.g., Morissette et al, 2018 ; Ursano et al, 2018 ). Using the three countries and their rules and recommendations for deployment as examples, we identify potential sources of work-life conflict as well as questions and avenues for future empirical research in and beyond the Scandinavian context.…”