Open AccessSex differences in mental health symptoms and substance use and their association with moral injury in veterans.
Author(s) -
Michelle L. Kelley,
Abby L. Braitman,
Tyler D. White,
Sarah Ehlke
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
psychological trauma
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.059
H-Index - 48
eISSN - 1942-9681
pISSN - 1942-969X
DOI - 10.1037/tra0000407
Subject(s) - moral injury , association (psychology) , mental health , substance use , psychology , psychiatry , clinical psychology , medicine , psychotherapist
This study examines potential sex differences in 3 types of experiences (i.e., atrocities of war, cognitive and emotional changes from combat, and leadership failure or betrayal) that may result in moral injury (i.e., guilt, shame, inability to forgive one's self, inability to forgive others, and withdrawn behavior associated with these three types of experiences). In addition, we examine whether moral injury results in different associations with mental health and substance use outcomes for female versus male veterans. We expected more symptoms of depression and anxiety for women and more symptoms of hazardous alcohol use and drug abuse for men. Also, we examined sex as a moderator between moral injury and outcomes, expecting stronger relationships between moral injury and symptoms of depression and anxiety among women and stronger associations between moral injury and alcohol use and drug abuse symptoms for men.