title: Understanding how deployment experiences change over time: Comparison of female and male OEF/OIF and Gulf War veterans.
abstract: Despite increased attention to the evolving nature of war, the unique challenges of contemporary deployment, and women's changing role in warfare, few studies have examined differences in deployment stressors across eras of service or evaluated how gender differences in deployment experiences have changed over time. Using data collected from two national survey studies, we examined war cohort and gender differences in veterans' reports of both mission-related and interpersonal stressors during deployment. Although Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom veterans reported more combat experiences and greater preparedness for deployment compared to Gulf War veterans, Gulf War veterans reported higher levels of other mission-related stressors, including difficult living and working environment, perceived threat, and potential exposure to nuclear, biological, and chemical weapons. Gender differences also emerged, with men reporting greater exposure to mission-related stressors and women reporting higher levels of interpersonal stressors. However, the size and nature of gender differences did not differ significantly when comparing veterans of the two eras. By understanding how risk factors for PTSD differ based on war era and gender, veterans' experiences can be better contextualized.
authors: Women's Health Sciences Division, National Center for PTSD, VA Boston Healthcare System.
authors: Annie B
authors: AB
authors: Fox
authors: Women's Health Sciences Division, National Center for PTSD, VA Boston Healthcare System.
authors: Brian E
authors: BE
authors: Walker
authors: Women's Health Sciences Division, National Center for PTSD, VA Boston Healthcare System.
authors: Brian N
authors: BN
authors: Smith
authors: Behavioral Sciences Division, National Center for PTSD, VA Boston Healthcare System.
authors: Daniel W
authors: DW
authors: King
authors: Women's Health Sciences Division, National Center for PTSD, VA Boston Healthcare System.
authors: Lynda A
authors: LA
authors: King
authors: Women's Health Sciences Division, National Center for PTSD, VA Boston Healthcare System.
authors: Dawne
authors: D
authors: Vogt
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D055826:Afghan Campaign 2001-; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D047830:Gulf War; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D054542:Iraq War, 2003-2011; D008297:Male; D012307:Risk Factors; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000209:etiology; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000209:etiology; D013997:Time Factors; D014728:Veterans / Q000523:psychology*; D000067453:War Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects