Willingness to seek mental health treatment : an interpretative phenomenological analysis of female military service members' experiences following a self-perceived mental health concern

ECU Author/Contributor (non-ECU co-authors, if there are any, appear on document)

Ashley Griffith (Creator)

Institution

East Carolina University (ECU )

Web Site: http://www.ecu.edu/lib/

Abstract: Background: Women comprise a growing proportion of the United States Armed Forces; yet , their unique experiences related to seeking mental health treatment have largely gone unexplored in the literature. While women experience higher rates of mental health disorders and seek treatment more frequently , they have conveyed unique concerns related to their decisions to utilize mental health treatment. Purpose: The purpose of this study was to explore and understand the shared , lived experience of female activity duty service members' willingness to seek mental health treatment and the factors that influenced their willingness , in the military mental health care system , following a self-perceived mental health concern. Methods: I conducted in-depth , open-ended interviews with seven , purposively sampled individuals ranging in age from 22 to 50 years old for a total of 14 interviews. Each participant reported she had served on active duty since 2008 and had experienced a self-perceived , mental health concern during that time. Participants completed a demographic questionnaire , the Military Stigma Scale , and two separate interviews. All interviews were transcribed and then analyzed using interpretive phenomenological analysis with a social constructivism framework. Results: Three main themes were identified as contributing to the willingness to utilize mental health treatment: organizational factors , other individuals' experiences , and personal experiences. Within each theme , participants expanded upon the influence of the messages received at differing levels , as well as the interactions with others regarding mental health treatment. These themes emphasized the influence of the social context in which these decisions are made. Discussion: Overall , female service members perceive that the military has made positive changes , which provide greater opportunity and support for treating mental health concerns. However , if service members continue to not seek services , we must work to understand what is continuing to prevent those actions and encourage treatment seeking behaviors. In our sample of service women , concerns about career repercussions and pervasive negative views of women were especially salient barriers. Continuing to ask service members what factors influence their decision to seek treatment , finding ways to improve perceptions of female service members , and increasing the transparency of the mental health treatment process and impacts could further increase rates of treatment seeking.

Additional Information

Publication

Thesis

Language: English

Date: 2019

Keywords

Stigma

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