Spc. Brittany Williams, 7th Signal Command (Theater), prepares to reassemble her rifle for the react to contact lane, during the Signal Command’s Noncommissioned Officer and Soldier of the Year competition in 2010. (U.S. Army photo)

Do you know a woman who is in the military or is a veteran? Wonder if her psychological health needs are different than those of men? Researchers are focusing on gender differences related to military psychological health, identifying interesting results. For instance, let’s look at posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) as it relates to military women.

PTSD is a psychological health disorder that gets a lot of attention in the military community. It includes the experience of a traumatic event, followed by symptoms that impair an individual’s ability to function. These include re-experiencing the traumatic event, persistent avoidance of things associated with the trauma, feeling numb, and new feelings of increased physiological arousal (such as increased startle reflex, difficulty with sleep or irritability).

Scientists are examining whether military women have different risk factors than men, or respond differently to their environment in ways that impact their development of PTSD. For example, one study of risk factors showed that Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) and Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) female veterans older than 30 are at increased risk for PTSD compared to younger female veterans. Additionally, both male and female veterans with PTSD shared some common traits: unmarried; Army service; enlisted; served on active duty rather than in the reserve component; and deployed multiple times compared to OEF and OIF veterans without the disorder.

Other scientists found that one year post-deployment, both males and females reported similar levels of PTSD and mental health symptoms. Results of this study also suggested that female veterans of current conflicts experience similar levels of combat exposure but don’t demonstrate greater risk for mental health difficulties related to this exposure compared to male veterans.

Finally, compared to their male counterparts seeking PTSD treatment, female OEF and OIF veterans appear more likely to be divorced or never married, less likely to be employed, less likely to have service-connected disability for medical disorders, and more likely to have lower benefits ratings for the same medical disabilities than male veterans. Clearly, emerging findings in this area of study underscore the importance of continued research to better understand how military women differ from men in their psychological health needs.

Women service members make up less than 20 percent of the military, but face multiple challenges. Not only do they face obstacles at times as minorities in their military careers, they also have to juggle family responsibilities vying for their time and attention. And although some military women feel they must appear to be super-human and show no signs of weakness to gain respect from their male counterparts, it’s a sign of strength to ask for help.

No matter what the issues are — maybe you’re feeling at the limits of your coping or your stress is overwhelming — help is always available. And if you notice yourself identifying with the symptoms of PTSD, your local military treatment facility or primary care provider can refer you to a specialist to address your symptoms. For further information, contact the DCoE Outreach Center 24/7 at 866-966-1020 or resources@dcoeoutreach.org.