Date of Submission

2021

Degree Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

Department

Psychology

Department Chair

Robert DiTomasso, PhD, ABPP

First Advisor

Bradley Rosenfield, PsyD

Second Advisor

Odelia McFadden, PsyD

Third Advisor

Stephanie Felgoise, PhD, ABPP

Abstract

The female veteran population is expected to increase over the next few decades, representing approximately 16.3% of the living population by the year 2042. Although research exists in regard to the entire veteran population, research relating to female veterans is lacking. The purpose of this study was (a) to identify factors associated and predictive of postdeployment distress and (b) to identify and explore stressors specific to female veterans’ experiences once they separate from the military. Findings from the study revealed significant relationships between the predictive factors (i.e., Life Events, Support, and Family Experiences) and criterion variables (i.e., Perceived Stress and Reintegration). Results demonstrated that female veterans who identified as having been exposed to negative life events reported high levels of stress and difficulty with reintegration. Furthermore, the results indicated that female veterans with higher levels of social support demonstrated lower levels of stress. The results, implications, and limitations and the future directions of the study are further explained. The discussion highlights the importance and need for identifying stress factors and reintegration difficulty among the female veteran population.

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