title: Associations between deployment, military rank, and binge drinking in active duty and Reserve/National Guard US servicewomen.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Prior studies of mostly male U.S. service members suggest service characteristics such as deployment with combat exposure and lower rank may be a risk factor for alcohol misuse. However, these relationships have not been examined among servicewomen who may be at high risk for experiencing deployment-related stressors and associated health consequences. This cross-sectional report of US servicewomen in the Reserve or National Guard (RNG) and active component (AC) sought to examine these associations.
  
  
  METHODS
  A Midwestern community sample of currently serving and veteran servicewomen (N=1339) completed structured telephone interviews. The Generalized Linear Model was used to examine associations between service characteristics, any binge drinking, and frequency of recent binge drinking after adjusting for demographics.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After adjusting for demographics, deployment to Iraq or Afghanistan was associated with greater odds of reporting a binge drinking episode, compared to no deployment, among servicewomen in the AC but not RNG. Deployment to Iraq or Afghanistan was also associated with more days binge drinking in both groups compared to servicewomen not deployed. Lower ranking servicewomen also reported higher odds of a binge drinking episode and higher frequency of binge drinking in both the RNG and AC.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Service characteristics including deployment to Iraq or Afghanistan (vs. those not deployed) and lower rank (vs. officers) may be a risk factor for recent binge drinking and higher frequency of binge drinking among servicewomen, after adjusting for demographic covariates. Public health and clinical implications are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Center for Mental Healthcare and Outcomes Research, Central Arkansas Veterans Affairs Healthcare System, North Little Rock, AR 72205, USA; Department of Psychiatry, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR 72205, USA; VA South Central (VISN 16) Mental Illness Research, Education, and Clinical Center, Central Arkansas Veterans Healthcare System, North Little Rock, AR 72205, USA. Electronic address: macucciare@uams.edu.
authors.forename: Michael A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Cucciare
authors.affiliation: The Center for Comprehensive Access and Delivery Research and Evaluation, Iowa City VA Health Care System, Iowa City, IA 52246, USA; Department of Psychiatry, University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA.
authors.forename: Anne G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Sadler
authors.affiliation: The Center for Comprehensive Access and Delivery Research and Evaluation, Iowa City VA Health Care System, Iowa City, IA 52246, USA; VA Office of Rural Health, Veterans Rural Health Resource Center-Central Region, Iowa City VA Health Care System, Iowa City, IA 52246, USA; Department of Internal Medicine, Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, IA 52242, USA.
authors.forename: Michelle A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Mengeling
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology, College of Public Health, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA.
authors.forename: James C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Torner
authors.affiliation: Center for Mental Healthcare and Outcomes Research, Central Arkansas Veterans Affairs Healthcare System, North Little Rock, AR 72205, USA; Department of Psychiatry, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR 72205, USA; Department of Pharmacy Practice, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR 72205, USA.
authors.forename: Geoffrey M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Curran
authors.affiliation: Center for Mental Healthcare and Outcomes Research, Central Arkansas Veterans Affairs Healthcare System, North Little Rock, AR 72205, USA; Department of Psychiatry, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR 72205, USA; VA South Central (VISN 16) Mental Illness Research, Education, and Clinical Center, Central Arkansas Veterans Healthcare System, North Little Rock, AR 72205, USA.
authors.forename: Xiaotong
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Han
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR 72205, USA.
authors.forename: Brenda M
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Booth
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D055826:Afghan Campaign 2001-; D000346:Afghanistan; D063425:Binge Drinking / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic / Q000379:methods; D007493:Iraq; D054542:Iraq War, 2003-2011; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008889:Military Personnel / Q000523:psychology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D014728:Veterans / Q000523:psychology*
keywords: Binge drinking; Deployment; Military rank; U.S. servicewomen