Accession Number:

ADA561535

Title:

Effects of Combat Deployment on Risky and Self-Destructive Behavior Among Active Duty Military Personnel

Descriptive Note:

Journal article

Corporate Author:

NAVAL HEALTH RESEARCH CENTER SAN DIEGO CA

Personal Author(s):

• Thomsen, Cynthia J.
• Stander, Valerie A.
• McWhorter, Stephanie K.
• Rabenhorst, Mandy M.
• Milner, Joel S.

Report Date:

2011-01-01

Pagination or Media Count:

13.0

Abstract:

Effects of deployment on high-risk and self-destructive behaviors were examined. Active duty military personnel N 2,116 described their deployment experiences and their participation in risky recreational activities, unprotected sex, illegal drug use, self-injurious behavior, and suicide attempts during three time frames civilian, military pre-deployment, and military post-deployment. Personnel that had not deployed, relative to those that had deployed, were more likely to report high-risk behavior as civilians, but not after entering the military. Deployment was associated with increases in risky recreational behavior, illegal drug use, and self-injurious behavior. However, this effect was restricted to personnel with a prior history of engaging in high-risk behavior among those with no prior history, effects of deployment on high-risk behavior were negligible.

Descriptors:

• *DEPLOYMENT
• ACTIVE DUTY
• ANXIETY
• DEPRESSION
• DRUG ABUSE
• MARINE CORPS PERSONNEL
• POST TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER
• RECREATION
• REPRINTS
• RISK
• SEX
• SUICIDE

Subject Categories:

• Psychology
• Personnel Management and Labor Relations

Distribution Statement:

APPROVED FOR PUBLIC RELEASE