WOULD YOU SPEND TIME WITH JUSTIN? PERCEPTIONS OF VETERANS WITH PTSD.

Ellie Becker and Jenny DysonSterling College

Introduction Research indicates that the stigma

associated with receiving mental health treatment may prevent veterans from seeking treatment (American Public Health Association, 2014).

There are now a significant number of soldiers returning from Iraq and Afghanistan with PTSD symptoms (Britt et al., 2007).

Literature Review Related Research:

Participants in one study reported veterans avoiding treatment early due to a known label of mental illness and difficulties with reintegration (Mitt et al., 2013).

90% of soldiers returning from Iraq encounter stressors that define PTSD. Of the 90% of soldiers who experience PTSD symptoms only 45% of them are interested in receiving help. Furthermore, only 40% of those actively seek professional help (Britt et al., 2007).

Given the prevalence of PTSD and associated stigma, this study examines current social perceptions of veterans who seek treatment.

Method Participants: Students from two state

universities and one private liberal arts college. Procedure: Created two hypothetical scenarios

involving an individual with PTSD symptoms. Symptoms were obtained from the DSM-V. Two scenarios had identical descriptions of a

veteran with the exact same PTSD symptoms: Professionally diagnosed vs. Non-diagnosed.

Responses were randomly assigned to one of the two scenarios.

Hypothesis ONE: Non-diagnosed individuals

experience less stigma. Even with known PTSD symptoms

TWO: Diagnosed individuals experience more stigma.

Method Cont. Questions: Rated on a 10-point Likert Scale Please rate the following:

Desire to work on the same shift with this person.

Safety working alone with this person. Desire to spend time with this person outside

of work. How dangerous do you consider this person? How positively do you view this person? Desire to introduce this person to your family.

Results Data analysis was conducted on 286

responses. Demographics

University of Southern Indiana (67.1%) Sterling College (17.8%) Henderson State University (15%)

Gender: 70.3% female; 29% male Race: 83.2% White, 9.4% African American,

2.8% Asian, 1.4% American Indian or Alaskan Native, 12.6% Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander

Results Independent samples t-test conducted

on each dependent variable Alpha level set at .05

Only one of six dependent variables reached statistical significance.

People preferred to introduce the formally diagnosed veteran to their family. Formally diagnosed (M=4.847, SD = 2.213) Non-diagnosed (M=4.257, SD 2.201) t(284) = 2.255, p = 0.025

Results A 2x2 ANOVA revealed two significant

interaction effects. Females preferred to spend time with the

officially diagnosed veteran, whereas males preferred to spend time with with the non-diagnosed veteran. F (1, 277) = 7.500, p = .007.

Females preferred to introduced the formally diagnosed veteran to their families, whereas males preferred to introduce the non-diagnosed veteran to their families. F (1, 280) = 4.147, p = .043

Results

small medium large0

0.05

0.1

0.15

0.2

0.25

0.3

Effect Size: Eta Squared

SignificantDifferences in this study had small effect sizes.

The experimental manipulation did not account for a large part of the effect. Values were approximately .01

Discussion Overall, the study suggests that

veterans formally diagnosed with PTSD may not be subject to stigma. There is a history of stigma. Perhaps this is

changing?

Discussion Cont. Limitations

Gender diversity was small. Create more questions, specifically regarding

personal safety. Relating to what we found significant.

Directions for future research Concentrate on matters of personal safety. Examine the stigmas of other mental

illnesses Establish a more diverse sample size.

References Blais, R. M. (2014). Posttraumatic Stress and Stigma in Active-Duty

Service Members Relate to Lower Likelihood of Seeking Support. Journal Of Traumatic Stress, 27(1), 116-119.

Britt, T. W., & Castro, C. A., Greene-Shortridge. (2007). The stigma of mental health problems in the military. Military medicine, 172(2),

157- 161. CORRIGAN, P. W., & WATSON, A. C. (2002). Understanding the impact of

stigma on people with mental illness. World Psychiatry, 1(1), 16–20.

Locke, C. R. (2011). Public attitudes toward mental illness: An experimental design examining the media's impact of crime on stigma. Dissertation Abstracts International Section A, 71, 4182.

Mittal, D., Drummond, K. L., Blevins, D., Curran, G., Corrigan, P., & Sullivan, G. (2013). Stigma associated with PTSD: perceptions of treatment seeking combat veterans. Psychiatric rehabilitation journal, 36(2), 86.