Date of Award
Summer 5-30-2025
Document Type
Open Access Thesis
Degree Name
Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)
Department
Psychology
First Advisor
Patricia Hopkins-Smith
Second Advisor
Marcia Bennett
Abstract
The high suicide rate among U.S. active-duty military personnel and veterans is a significant public health concern. Despite the high prevalence rate of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) among this population, service members are less likely to seek mental health services compared to the civilian population. Factors such as fear of career harm, stigma, and barriers to care contribute to this avoidance. This study aimed to investigate if service members in civilian-equivalent (non-combat) jobs are less likely to disclose psychological symptoms compared to those in combat-related career fields and to assess the impact of perceived importance to the military mission. The findings of the present study revealed no significant differences between combat and non-combat personnel in their willingness to disclose psychological symptoms. These results suggest that institutional and cultural factors may have a more substantial influence on disclosure behaviors than occupational roles alone. These findings align with prior research, indicating that barriers to help-seeking, such as stigma and career consequences, are pervasive across military roles.
Identifier
SC 11.PsyD.2025.Bright.N.
Recommended Citation
Bright, Nadja; Hopkins-Smith, Patricia; Revering, Jesma; Bennett, Marcia; and Theisen, Jim, "Avoidance of Mental Health Utilization and Reporting of Symptoms among U.S. Air Force Active-Duty Service Members in Civilian-Equivalent Career Fields" (2025). Theses and Graduate Projects. 1667.
https://idun.augsburg.edu/etd/1667