The psychological health of contractors working in war zones

Feinstein, Anthony; Botes, Maggie

doi:10.1002/jts.20390

Cited by 13 publications

(12 citation statements)

References 12 publications

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“…An estimated 126 000 security contractor staff have been deployed in Iraq since the beginning of combat operations in 2003, with a large number of national defence staff (civil-servants), journalists and other news media staff also working in operational theatres 4 7 8 27. The majority of non-military personnel working in theatre appear to be security contractors who themselves are most often former members of the Armed Forces 6. There may then be, some similarities between this subpopulation of personnel deployed alongside the Armed Forces and the deployed Armed Forces personnel themselves.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The impact of deployment length on the health and well-being of military personnel: a systematic review of the literature

et al. 2010

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To determine the current state of knowledge regarding the effects of deployment length and a 'mismatch' between the expected and actual length of deployments on the health and well-being of military personnel in order to draw relevant conclusions for all organisations that deploy personnel to conflict zones. A systematic review was conducted of studies measuring deployment length to theatres of operations and the issue of 'mismatch' between expected and actual tour lengths. The nine studies included were rated for quality. Of the nine studies reviewed, six were rated as high quality, two as moderate quality and one as low quality. Seven of these studies found adverse effects of longer deployments on health and well-being. The two studies that measured 'mismatch' found adverse effects on mental health and well-being when deployments lasted longer than personnel expected. There are a limited number of studies which have assessed the effects of deployment length and very few that have assessed the effects of 'mismatch' on health and well-being. However, this review suggests that, as deployment length increases, the potential for personnel to suffer adverse health effects also increases. Further research is required to investigate the effects of spending prolonged periods of time away from family and friends, especially when deployment lasts longer than expected by personnel. These results are important not only for the Armed Forces, but also for other organisations that place employees in similar working conditions. Taking account of these findings may allow better preparation for the potentially harmful effects that deployments can have on employees' health and well-being.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The impact of deployment length on the health and well-being of military personnel: a systematic review of the literature

et al. 2010

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“…Researchers also face the challenge of bringing attention to families who might otherwise suffer invisibly. Displaced and disenfranchised families in Africa, women and girls in societies where low status exacerbates their vulnerability, and private contractors who face elevated rates of death and injury in Iraq (Feinstein & Botes, 2009) all deserve to have their experiences understood. Beyond simply documenting the content and prevalence of concerns, researchers also must push forward to develop theory‐driven models that will help to explain variations among individuals and families, ultimately generating insights that will help to prevent mass violence, prepare families for it, and intervene in its aftermath.…”

Section: Concluding Thoughtsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Family Risk and Resilience in the Context of War and Terrorism

Wadsworth

2010

J of Marriage and Family

134

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War and terrorism are exerting increasing force on world affairs, with growing implications for families and the scholars who study them. In this review, I consider the implications of mass violence for families, with particular emphasis on families with members serving in the U.S. military and families around the world who live where mass violence occurs. Mass violence poses significant threats to mental health and family functioning, but individuals and families also display striking levels of resilience.

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“…When civilian contractors suffer physical injuries during employment in a combat zone, a possibility of mental health struggles also exists. After completing the Trauma History Questionnaire, a group of civilian contractors were found to exceed cutoff scores for depression, psychological distress, and alcohol consumption (Feinstein & Botes, 2009). Similarly, Brenner, et al (2008) found that veterans diagnosed with PTSD were experiencing a reduced amount of emotional responses post-deployment and an increased sense of disconnection with others.…”

Section: Chapter 2 Literature Reviewmentioning

confidence: 98%

The effects of combat zones on mental health among civilian contractors

Trupiano

Praetorius

2019

Social Work in Mental Health

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As the number of suicides among the military and veteran population continue to increase each year, concern has generated program and research development. The Department of Defense (2012) discovered 40% of suicides in the military were in the age range of 17 and 24. They also reported that among military members, 42.1% had a mental health diagnosis, 23.0% had a history of substance abuse or addiction, and 13.5% reported a history of self-harm (DoD, 2012), all pieces to the theory of suicide (Van Orden et al., 2010). Another population with similar combat experiences to military members and veterans are civilian contractors. Although they have similar jobs and experiences overseas, civilian contractors do not receive the same quality of healthcare (Kestian, 2007; Miller, 2009). Civilian contractors are entitled to receive care covered by the Defense Base Act (DBA) and War Hazards Compensation Act (WHCA) (U.S.

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The psychological health of contractors working in war zones

Cited by 13 publications

References 12 publications

The impact of deployment length on the health and well-being of military personnel: a systematic review of the literature

The impact of deployment length on the health and well-being of military personnel: a systematic review of the literature

Family Risk and Resilience in the Context of War and Terrorism

The effects of combat zones on mental health among civilian contractors

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