Examining the Association between Trauma Exposure and Work-Related Outcomes in Women Veterans

Abstract

Women veterans have high rates of trauma exposure, including military sexual trauma (MST), which are associated with numerous health and psychosocial consequences. However, associations between trauma history and work-related outcomes are less well-characterized. We examined whether military-related and non-military trauma types were associated with work-related outcomes and whether posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression symptoms mediated these associations. A total of 369 women veterans completed up to two mailed surveys, 12 months apart, assessing trauma exposure, depression and PTSD symptoms, occupational functioning, and employment status (unemployed, out of the workforce, employed). Participants reported high rates of trauma exposure. Nearly half (47.5%) were out of the workforce. Military-related trauma, military sexual assault, and adult sexual assault were associated with worse occupational functioning. Only PTSD symptoms mediated associations between trauma types and occupational functioning. No trauma types were significantly directly associated with employment status; however, PTSD and depression symptoms mediated associations between trauma types and being out of the workforce. Findings can inform screening for military trauma exposures, mental health, and work-related needs among women veterans.

Mental Health and Psychosocial Functioning in Recently Separated U.S. Women Veterans: Trajectories and Bi-Directional Relationships

“…Although the relationship between deployment stressors, depression, and work functioning in women was identified and emphasized in a prior study [23], current findings suggest that the effect of deployment stressors and depression on work functioning persists over a longer timeframe. These findings are consistent with another study that found that women veterans who endorsed sexual assault during adulthood experienced worse occupational functioning one year later [65]. The finding that the strongest predictors of the decrement in work functioning, deployment sexual harassment and depression, are more prevalent in veteran women than men, support the value of additional support with regard to women's work functioning.…”

What is the association between post-traumatic stress disorder and unemployment after a disaster?

“…Moreover, given the fit of the alternative model, it is more probable that the appearance of PTSD cases explains the unemployment condition. This finding is novel in the literature reviewed and supports ideas such as the lack of clarity when the stress-unemployment cycle could begin [7,31], and the relationship between stressors, unemployment and mental health tends to be interdependent once it starts [7,9,32], in refugees [33,34], immigrants [35], men [36] and women veterans [37], and social workers, to name a few cases. For example, studies conducted on Iraqi refugees show that exposure before and after the event predicts unemployment by 91% [7].…”

The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Mental Health, Occupational Functioning, and Professional Retention Among Health Care Workers and First Responders

“…They may also experience demoralization 1 related to inadequate support or seeing their contributions as ineffective. The impact of these types of experiences has been well documented in contexts such as military service, where both isolated and cumulative trauma exposure is strongly associated with high psychiatric symptom burden, as well as decreased occupational functioning and workplace participation [2][3][4] . Understanding how such occupational stressors affect HCW/FR is important to identify risks to HCW/FR and to our health care system, and develop strategies to reduce those risks 5 .…”