Women in the Canadian Forces are significantly more
likely to suffer post-traumatic stress and
depression than male troops, suggests a new study
that points to key psychological differences between
the uniform-wearing sexes — even as the military
lines between them are blurred.
The female
soldiers, sailors and air force personnel were
actually less likely to have encountered combat or
other trauma during a foreign deployment than men —
but more likely to have witnessed domestic violence
as children or faced sexual trauma and spousal
abuse, researchers at the University of Manitoba
concluded.
Men in the Forces, on the other hand, are more
apt to hit the bottle in a serious way, they
reported in the Journal of Psychiatric Research.
The findings do not explain why the differences
exist, but the study cites one theory that military
women could face additional pressures because, as
still a relatively small minority, they are treated
as outsiders and routinely face stereotyping.
Sheila Hellstrom, a retired brigadier general,
said the study does not surprise her, noting that
women in the forces often fill dual roles at home
and work that can make the unpredictable life more
stressful.
“It’s still difficult for women to a certain
extent, because they’re still supposed to be the
caregivers,” said Gen. Hellstrom, based in Ottawa.
“Usually if they’re in a relationship, they’re the
ones who take the most stress when they’re told to
deploy … If you’re posted somewhere on short notice,
there are disruptions you have to deal with.”
Sexual harassment in the military is also a fact
of life women have to deal with, she added.
The researchers suggest their findings should be
heeded closely by mental-health professionals who
work with female military personnel. They emphasize,
though, that the study simply sheds light on the
distinction between men and the women who make up a
growing part of the Forces, and says nothing about
the relative fitness of females to serve.
“There is some concern about stigmatizing women
in the military,” said Dr. Jitender Sareen, a
psychiatry professor and consultant at a Veterans
Affairs operational-stress injury clinic. “We
couldn’t say whether men or women … are more likely
to suffer PTSD under combat stress.”
The researchers, who also include Natalie Mota, a
doctoral student in psychology, say the study was
prompted in part by the burgeoning number of women
in the Canadian Forces. The 13,000 female personnel
make up about 15% of the total. And another new
study, reported by the National Post last week,
found they are playing an increasing role in combat,
with 310 Canadian women deployed to Afghanistan in
the infantry and other fighting roles in 2001-11,
more than triple the proportion that had combat jobs
in the 1990s.
The University of Manitoba study analysed results
from the Canadian Forces segment of a national
mental health survey, which questioned more than
8,000 regular force and reserve troops.
It found that women were significantly more
likely to suffer major depression, social phobia and
post-traumatic stress disorder, with the differences
wider among members of the reserves – part-time
troops. Men were about three times as likely to have
an alcohol dependence.
While it is possible that women face unique
stressors in the military, it is also conceivable
that they enter the Forces with an increased
vulnerability to mental disorders, the researchers
say.
Even when factors such as age, rank and exposure
to violence and other traumatic events were factored
out of the study’s results, it seemed that women had
more problems like depression and post-traumatic
stress disorder, they concluded.
Gen. Hellstsrom speculated that responses to the
survey may also have been affected by the fact that
women are more open about discussing mental-health
issues, while a male soldier may be “unwilling to
say how he feels because he would not be looked at
as macho guy.”
National Post