(PS13-88) Differences Between Deployed and Non-deployed Veterans’ Self-stigma, Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, and Help-seeking Behavior

Close to two million veterans have been deployed since the events of 9/11/2001, 29% of which have been diagnosed with Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Between 56% and 87% of veterans diagnosed with psychopathology, including PTSD, do not seek treatment. Of those that do seek treatment, 68% prematurely drop out. Increases in PTSD symptomatology have been shown to decrease veterans’ help-seeking behaviors. Help-seeking behaviors may be partially responsible for these staggering numbers. Mental health self-stigma (MHSS) has been shown to increase PTSD symptomatology and decrease treatment-seeking behaviors among veterans. Despite these relationships, few studies have looked at MHSS and help-seeking behavior in the veteran population. No studies have identified differences between deployed and non-deployed veterans’ MHSS, PTSD symptomatology, and help-seeking behaviors. Understanding how deployments affect veterans’ help-seeking behaviors, self-stigma, and psychopathology is pivotal to developing veteran-focused interventions. The purpose of this study was to elucidate differences between deployed and non-deployed veterans, specifically with PTSD symptoms, MHSS, and help-seeking behaviors. It was hypothesized that deployed veterans would have significantly worse MHSS, PTSD symptoms, and help-seeking behaviors than their non-deployed counterparts. Through independent t-tests, results indicated significant differences in overall MHSS between deployed (M =  214.80, SD = 60.92) and non-deployed veterans (M = 191.80, SD = 56.17), t(211) = -2.68, p< .05. Overall, MHSS was worse in deployed than non-deployed veterans. Deployed and non-deployed veterans scored significantly differently on each MHSS subscale. Stereotype awareness was heightened in deployed veterans (M = 57.78, SD = 15.44) compared to non-deployed veterans (M = 52.70, SD = 14.10), t(211) = -2.33, p< .05. Stereotype agreement was also shown to be higher in deployed veterans (M = 57.29, SD = 16.16) compared to their non-deployed counterparts (M = 50.95, SD = 14.46), t(211) = -2.81, p< .05. Deployed veterans were shown to have more self-concurrence (M = 49.67, SD = 18.53) than non-deployed veterans (M = 43.86, SD = 17.67), t(211) = -2.19, p< .05. Self-esteem decrement was also shown to be higher in deployed (M = 50.06, SD = 19.44) than in non-deployed veterans (M = 44.28, SD = 18.84), t(211) = -2.04, p< .05. These trends continued when looking at PTSD symptoms, as these symptoms were significantly worse in deployed (M = 53.95, SD = 12.96) than non-deployed veterans (M = 42.76, SD = 16.46), t(211) = 4.01, p< .001. Deployed veterans’ help-seeking behaviors (M = 42.23, SD = 6.01) were also significantly worse than those of non-deployed veterans (M  = 44.95, SD = 7.69), t(211) = 2.81, p< .05. These findings underscore the impact that deployment may have on MHSS, PTSD, and help-seeking behaviors among veterans. Further research is necessary to explore the underlying mechanisms through which deployment influences PTSD, MHSS, and help-seeking behaviors. These findings emphasize the necessity for targeted approaches for interventions geared towards previously deployed veterans in hopes to increase help-seeking behavior, decrease MHSS, and decrease PTSD symptomatology.