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Exploring The Effects Of Stigma, PTSD Symptomology, Resilience, And Perceived Threat On Help-Seeking In Veteran Women With PTSD

Chambliss, Tormechi
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Abstract

Women are trending to become one of the fastest growing populations in the military. Currently, there are two million women veterans, making up 10% of the veteran population. Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a debilitating disease, and women veterans are at a greater risk of PTSD than men veterans. It is not clear if women face the same barriers as men when it comes to seeking treatment for PTSD. Therefore, this study examined the effects of stigma, PTSD symptomology, resilience, and perceived threat on help-seeking in veteran women with PTSD. A non-experimental, cross-sectional descriptive correlational design was conducted in a national sample of 89 female veterans, using online structured, self-administered questionnaires. Pearson’s Correlation and multiple regression were conducted to examine the relationships among the study variables. Most participants identified as Black (46%) within the age group of 25-34 years (39%) and retired/discharged from the military (97 %). The majority of participants (85%) were seeking help for PTSD, and most were either attending counseling/therapy (38%) or not receiving any treatment (31.5%). Stigma was the main reason for not seeking help (15%). Higher public and self-stigma, greater severity of PTSD symptoms, and higher levels of resilience were significantly associated with greater help-seeking intentions for PTSD. The strongest correlations were observed for public stigma (r = -0.58, p < .001), then self-stigma (r = -0.51, p < .001), followed by resilience (r = 0.39, p < .001), and then PTSD symptomology (r=0.26, p<.05). Perceived threat of PTSD was not significantly correlated with help seeking intentions for PTSD. Higher public stigma was significantly associated with resilience (r=-0.30, p<.001), and perceived threat was significantly associated with PTSD symptomology (r=0.26, p<.05). The findings underscore resilience and stigma (public and self) as significant factors associated with seeking care for PTSD among women veterans. In mediation and moderation analysis greater resilience was associated with higher intentions of seeking help for PTSD, independent of stigma and perceived threat, positioning resilience as a key factor of proactive health behaviors. Trauma-informed mental health services that build resilience, address stigma, and promote help-seeking among women veterans is needed.

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Date
2025-07-11
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Research Projects
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Keywords
PTSD, Resilience, Stigma, Veteran Women, Perceived Threat
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Chambliss, Tormechi. 2025. "Exploring The Effects Of Stigma, PTSD Symptomology, Resilience, And Perceived Threat On Help-Seeking In Veteran Women With PTSD." PhD diss., Georgia State University. https://doi.org/10.57709/J9J3-0A15
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