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BACKGROUND/RATIONALE:
Combat deployments of long duration and unpredictable length are especially problematic for Reserve and Guard soldiers who return to civilian lives, in particular for women veterans, and especially those who are mothers. Concerns and stressors unique to women veteran mothers that affect successful reintegration upon return from the war zone ultimately can impact women veterans' health. The rationale for this pilot study is based on observations of clinicians conducting psychological evaluations at the NJ War Related Illness and Injury Study Center (WRIISC). They have noted that female veterans who are mothers of dependent children often report reintegration issues unique to their roles as mothers and family caretakers and that these concerns seem to complicate their adjustment to home life. Based on anecdotal evidence and data from active duty military women, we hypothesize that Reserve and Guard veteran women who are mothers of dependent children will have different reintegration concerns than those who are not. Although programs exist to try to reduce the burdens of reintegration, these programs have not seen wide use. This suggests that barriers exist to prevent women from availing themselves of these programs, or that women veterans are unaware of these programs.
OBJECTIVE(S):
The pilot study has the following specific aims:
A. To deepen our understanding of the concerns and stressors that accompany reintegration into civilian life for OIF/OEF Reserve and Guard women veterans who are or are not mothers of dependent children.
B. To deepen our understanding of potential barriers to utilizing available support services for these same women and determine what services would provide a better fit for their needs.
METHODS:
We conducted a series of 3 separate focus groups consisting of previously deployed single or married OEF/OIF Reserve and Guard women veterans both with and without dependent children. Each of the 3 focus groups addressed areas of concern that could affect readjustment to home life: 1. family issues, 2. work issues, 3.barriers to accessing currently available services and suggestions about what services would be helpful and how those could be made accessible. The discussion guides for each focus group were developed based on anecdotal information as well as knowledge derived from existing literature. A unique discussion guide was developed for each of the 3 sessions. We aimed to compose all three sessions of women veterans who do and do not have dependent children so that comparisons of reintegration issues for family and work issues and barriers can be compared for these 2 sub-groups. However, we were not able to do so for session 1. This session was conducted as an interview since only one veteran arrived for participation. Eight woman veterans participated in session 2 and 5 in session 3. All participants were consented prior to the sessions; all sessions were audio taped and notes were taken either by the study PI or Co-PI.
FINDINGS/RESULTS:
We conducted three separate sessions (8/19/08, 1 participant; 9/19/08, 8 participants and 11/18/08, 5 participants). Of the recruited women veterans, 2 were on active duty (1 Army, session 1; 1 Navy, session 3), 4 were members of the Reserves (session 2), and 8 were Guard members (4 in each session 2 and 3).The median age for women veterans in all three sessions was similar with 31 (session 1), 34 (session 2), and 36 years (session 3); 13 of the 14 participants had at least some college education. Six women veterans identified themselves as Black/African American (1 in session 1, 4 in session 2, and 1 in session 1), 6 as White/Non-Hispanic, and 2 as Other. We were able to recruit 8 veterans who are mothers with 6 dependent children among them and 6 non-mothers. Qualitative data analysis is pending receipt of transcribed session proceedings by VA approved transcription service.
IMPACT:
Initial impressions drawn from the interview/focus groups conducted have already resulted in initiating a monthly two-hour readjustment/support group for women veterans facilitated by a WRIISC Social Worker and held in the early evening. Based on our informal qualitative analysis, the first readjustment group, held in early December 2008, addressed the following issues: How to communicate with family members, employment issues including resume building and interviewing tips, money management, and how to connect to community resources. Thus knowledge about women veterans who are or are not mothers has already resulted in providing these veterans with focused support to address their readjustment needs.
PUBLICATIONS:
None at this time.
DRA:
Special (Underserved, High Risk) Populations
DRE:
none
Keywords:
Operation Enduring Freedom, Operation Iraqi Freedom, Women's health
MeSH Terms:
none
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