Long-Term Outcomes of Service Women Injured on Combat Deployment

Area of Science:

• Military Health
• Women's Health
• Mental and Behavioral Health

Background:

• Sex and gender disparities in health are recognized, particularly impacting service women.
• Injured service members face elevated risks for adverse mental and behavioral health outcomes.
• Existing research often relies on objective medical records, necessitating focus on patient-reported outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine physical and mental health-related quality of life, mental health symptoms, and health behaviors in injured service women.
• To identify disparities and associations between mental health and behaviors in this population.
• To inform the development of targeted interventions and integrated care models.

Main Methods:

• Cross-sectional study of injured service women deployed in the field.
• Assessment of physical and mental health-related quality of life.
• Screening for mental health conditions, problematic alcohol use, sleep quality, and physical activity levels.

Main Results:

• Approximately 50% of injured service women screened positive for a mental health condition.
• Prevalence of risky health behaviors including problematic drinking, poor sleep, and physical inactivity was significant.
• Significant associations were observed between various mental and behavioral health variables, highlighting interconnectedness.

Conclusions:

• Injured service women exhibit high rates of mental health conditions and associated risky behaviors.
• Integrated mental healthcare and routine screening are essential for addressing the complex needs of injured service women.
• Addressing factors like mental health symptoms, alcohol use, and sleep disturbances is critical for improving patient outcomes.