Does mental health stigma change across the deployment cycle?

Area of Science:

• Military Mental Health
• Psychological Stigma Research
• Deployment Psychology

Background:

• Previous studies on mental health stigma in military personnel were cross-sectional.
• This study prospectively examined stigma in a cohort of deployed U.S. combat Marines.

Purpose of the Study:

• To prospectively examine the course of perceived mental health stigma.
• To identify predictors of stigma changes during deployment.

Main Methods:

• A cohort of 768 U.S. combat Marines was assessed pre-deployment, and at 1, 5, and 8 months post-deployment.
• Examined predictors included PTSD symptom severity, unit cohesion (vertical and horizontal), and mental health treatment utilization.

Main Results:

• Perceived mental health stigma remained largely stable throughout the deployment cycle.
• Latent growth curve analyses showed a statistically significant but small decrease in stigma over time.
• Lower PTSD symptoms and higher unit cohesion predicted decreased stigma; treatment utilization did not.

Conclusions:

• Perceived mental health stigma among deployed combat Marines was low and stable.
• Unit cohesion and PTSD symptom severity influence stigma trajectories.