Anxiety and Depression in Marines Sent to War in Iraq and Afghanistan
Abstract
Past research suggests that participation in combat operations is associated with an increased risk for mental health disorders. The objective of this study was to identify factors associated with anxiety and depression in a sample of 1,560 U.S. Marines who deployed in support of conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan. Eleven demographic and psychosocial factors were examined in relation to depression and anxiety. In multivariate analyses, five factors emerged as significant in relation to depression: deployment-related stressors, combat exposure, positive attitudes toward leadership, mild traumatic brain injury symptoms, and marital status. The same set of factors, with the exception of marital status, emerged as significant in relation to anxiety. Deployment-related stressors had a stronger association with both depression and anxiety than any other variable. This finding is important because unlike combat exposure, deployment-related stressors are potentially modifiable by the military.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Sep 01, 2012
- Accession Number
- ADA619350
Entities
People
- Cedric F. Garland
- Gerald E. Larson
- Robyn M. Highfill-McRoy
- Stephanie Booth-Kewley
- Thomas A. Gaskin
Organizations
- Naval Health Research Center